‘Elizabeth Park losing animals’
May 18, 2005
THE population of various species of large mammals in Queen Elizabeth National Park in western Uganda is declining, a new report on aerial surveys in the park has said.
By Gerald Tenywa
THE population of various species of large mammals in Queen Elizabeth National Park in western Uganda is declining, a new report on aerial surveys in the park has said.
Poaching is cited as the main cause of the decrease in the last four years, in the report compiled by a consultant and researchers of the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).
Queen Elizabeth National Park’s population had recovered in the late 1980s from massive poaching during the years of political turmoil and civil unrest. “The results of the 2004 survey indicate that populations of the buffalo, kob, hippo and waterbuck are significantly lower than in 2000,’’ the report said.
In the northern sector, the decline is probably due to disease and poaching, the report said.
It added, “There was an outbreak of anthrax in Queen Elizabeth in August 2004. Initially, it affected the hippo population but it has spread to the buffalo herds as well.’’
However, the buffalo population had declined before the survey and the 2002 count showed very low numbers. “The decline is possibly due to increased poaching,’’ the report stated.
The report covers the trends of the last three decades, pointing out that the population of the large mammals had declined during the 1970s but improved in the late 1980s with reactivation of anti- poaching rules in the park.
Meanwhile, the general demand for bush meat has grown locally and nationally, the report said.
“Counts conducted in 1999, 2000 and 2002 indicated that buffalo numbers were declining rapidly,†it said.
THE population of various species of large mammals in Queen Elizabeth National Park in western Uganda is declining, a new report on aerial surveys in the park has said.
Poaching is cited as the main cause of the decrease in the last four years, in the report compiled by a consultant and researchers of the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).
Queen Elizabeth National Park’s population had recovered in the late 1980s from massive poaching during the years of political turmoil and civil unrest. “The results of the 2004 survey indicate that populations of the buffalo, kob, hippo and waterbuck are significantly lower than in 2000,’’ the report said.
In the northern sector, the decline is probably due to disease and poaching, the report said.
It added, “There was an outbreak of anthrax in Queen Elizabeth in August 2004. Initially, it affected the hippo population but it has spread to the buffalo herds as well.’’
However, the buffalo population had declined before the survey and the 2002 count showed very low numbers. “The decline is possibly due to increased poaching,’’ the report stated.
The report covers the trends of the last three decades, pointing out that the population of the large mammals had declined during the 1970s but improved in the late 1980s with reactivation of anti- poaching rules in the park.
Meanwhile, the general demand for bush meat has grown locally and nationally, the report said.
“Counts conducted in 1999, 2000 and 2002 indicated that buffalo numbers were declining rapidly,†it said.