Chimps to be celebrated

PIC: Joseph Niwomujuzi, the Assistant Animal Keeper at the Wild Education Centre, Entebbe feeding the rescued Chimp with milk.(Credit:Gerald Tenywa)

WILDLIFE

HOIMA - Zakayo's death may have caused a lot of sadness but it also yielded positive results for the chimps at the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre, formerly known as Entebbe zoo.

At the burial of Uganda's oldest chimp, Zakayo which happened over three months ago, passion for wildlife was brought life.

As the different mourners eulogized the best known chimp to Ugandans, they wanted Zakayo to be immortalised.

They said a day should be set aside to celebrate Zakayo or chimps in Uganda and elsewhere in the world.

Their prayers were answered on Saturday, July 14 in Hoima which is sitting on the western arm of the rift valley. This is where media is expected to camp for three days as the commemoration of the first World chimp day gets underway.

Zakayo the late. Uganda's oldest chimpazee. (File photo)

Media camp in Hoima

Chimpanzee Trust, an organisation that manages Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary on Lake Victoria has organised an educative, fun and adventurous Media Camp in Hoima from Friday, July 13 to Sunday, July 15. This camp is exclusive for Uganda's conservation media.

"You will have an opportunity to share ideas and diverse perspectives on conservation while initiating new friendships and maintaining connections," stated Eric Ntalo, the public relations officer for the chimp trust.

In honour of humans' closest cousin, World Chimpanzee Day is a celebration of chimpanzees and an opportunity to raise awareness about the vital need for worldwide participation in their care, protection, and conservation in the wild and in captivity.