21 giraffes get new home along the Nile

For the first time in the history, 19 giraffes have stepped on the southern banks of River Nile, according to Jossy Muhangi, the spokesperson of the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).

Muhangi said the team from UWA and the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC) captured a total of 21 giraffes in the northern parts of the Nile and relocated them.

In addition to the 19 giraffes that were moved (translocated) from the northern banks of the Nile to the southern banks, two giraffes have moved to UWEC also formerly known as Entebbe Zoo.

"We are very excited about the movement of giraffes to the southern banks of the Nile," said Muhangi. "It is the first time that the giraffes have moved to this part of the park."

He said the giraffes upon release occupied their new home and immediately started foraging. The 19 giraffes are currently living in three groups in the park.

The Entebbe team was well received and been put in a holding ground. "We are going to integrate them with the male known as Seguya," said Belinda Atim, the Public Relations Officer at UWEC. "It really nice to have two female giraffes to replace the two ladies we have lost within the last two years," said Atim.

Muhangi said the three weeks operation was supposed to capture 22 giraffes but some of the individuals were stressed and the capture team released them. He also said the translocation team was made up of Ugandans meaning that the country is growing its capacity in the movement of wild animals.