Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is set to begin chimpanzee tracking experience for tourists, APA cn report on Wednesday.
This follows a survey revealing high concentration of chimpanzee population in the northern segment of the park.
The survey, conducted by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) in partnership with the Jane Goodall Institute Uganda, revealed that there are 426 chimpanzees in the northern segment of the park. The survey provided the first scientific data on the park’s chimpanzee population.
UWA Executive Director James told reporters on Wednesday that the findings opened opportunities for tourism diversification, allowing visitors to extend stays and reduce reliance on gorilla tracking alone.
“With verified population numbers and mapped locations, we can now introduce chimpanzee-focused tourism without disturbing the animals or their habitats,” said Musinguzi.”This means visitors can experience chimpanzees, gorillas, and hippos all within the same ecosystem.”
He said the northern part of Bwindi, where chimpanzees are concentrated, is particularly suitable for this initiative.
Michael Jurua, conservation science manager at Jane Goodall Institute said the survey also documented signs of other wildlife, including elephants and six other primate species.
“Spatial analysis showed that the northern section of Bwindi is particularly suitable for chimpanzees, while southern areas are more suited for gorillas,” Jurua said.
Uganda hosts over 5,000 chimpanzees, with about 75 percent residing in five major forest blocks. Bwindi’s chimpanzee population is concentrated in the northern segment, making it an ideal location for chimpanzee-focused tourism.
MG/as/APA