Ostriches are rare, says UWA

By Eva Nabagesera and Gerald Tenywa WILD ostriches, the biggest birds in the world, are becoming very rare in Uganda, according to a statement by the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC). The birds that roamed in huge herds over the plains of northern Uganda can only be found in remote isolated areas. The release cited illegal hunting and egg collectors as the biggest threat to the birds, adding that if such activities continue, they will bring the birds to extinction. The statement also revealed that UWEC has received two ostriches which were illegally captured in Karamoja and later rescued from traders in Mbale town. Bernard Twinomugisha, the Chief Warden of Mountain Elgon National Park told The New Vision over the weekend that the businessman was rearing the birds without a permit. He said the birds had been kept illegally in captivity for at least three months. The businessman reportedly hatched the ostriches from eggs, which he had picked from the wild. "We have established that the eggs are traditionally hatched by the local people in their homes,'' Twinomugisha said adding that this was an offence. One of the birds was taken back to Kidepo Valley National Park, for future release. Ends