Elephants destroy crops in Nwoya
Sep 28, 2011
THE Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) rangers in Murchison Falls Game Park are struggling to control stray elephants that have destroyed gardens and crops in Koch-Goma sub-county in Nwoya district.
By Cornes Lubangakene
THE Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) rangers in Murchison Falls Game Park are struggling to control stray elephants that have destroyed gardens and crops in Koch-Goma sub-county in Nwoya district.
The UWA warden for community conservation, Walter Odokorwot, last Friday said the forest cover, stretching for about 40km between the community land and the park boundary, had made it hard to pursue the elephants.
“Following a recent intrusion of the elephants, we have deployed rangers in Laminomony, Lila and Orum, which are currently being invaded by the animals. Our major challenge is the forest cover,†Odokorwot said.
He added: “We shall safeguard people’s gardens from elephants until the crops have been harvested.â€
To strengthen their operation, Odokorwot said UWA would train six youth from each of the affected villages to work as problem animal scouts. The youth would work hand-in-hand with UWA rangers.
He said UWA would get a permanent solution to the stray animals.
“As crops mature, the aroma tends to attract the elephants and one of the things we are doing is to dig trenches in such areas,†he said.
Odokorwot, however, urged the leaders not to incite the people to kill the elephants.
Recently, Nwoya district Woman MP Lilly Adong and the community of Koch-Goma gave a one-month ultimatum to UWA to drive back the elephants or else they would use “local methods†of protecting their gardens.
THE Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) rangers in Murchison Falls Game Park are struggling to control stray elephants that have destroyed gardens and crops in Koch-Goma sub-county in Nwoya district.
The UWA warden for community conservation, Walter Odokorwot, last Friday said the forest cover, stretching for about 40km between the community land and the park boundary, had made it hard to pursue the elephants.
“Following a recent intrusion of the elephants, we have deployed rangers in Laminomony, Lila and Orum, which are currently being invaded by the animals. Our major challenge is the forest cover,†Odokorwot said.
He added: “We shall safeguard people’s gardens from elephants until the crops have been harvested.â€
To strengthen their operation, Odokorwot said UWA would train six youth from each of the affected villages to work as problem animal scouts. The youth would work hand-in-hand with UWA rangers.
He said UWA would get a permanent solution to the stray animals.
“As crops mature, the aroma tends to attract the elephants and one of the things we are doing is to dig trenches in such areas,†he said.
Odokorwot, however, urged the leaders not to incite the people to kill the elephants.
Recently, Nwoya district Woman MP Lilly Adong and the community of Koch-Goma gave a one-month ultimatum to UWA to drive back the elephants or else they would use “local methods†of protecting their gardens.