General Information

The population of lions and leopards in all National parks of Uganda is decreasing steadily, even more affected is the population of the spotted hyenas whereas the number of the hunting-leopards or so called cheetah seems to remain steady. The reason here fore is quite evident: the works of the human being.

The constant battle for their natural habitat (3,8% growth of population per year, the highest worldwide!), rabies, bush fires which are often set by hunters and herdsman and the shrinking gene pool, all together are affecting the various species at high level.
The main reason for all these misguided developments is poverty and its resulting poor education from the surrounding population in the various National parks. For poor populations, nature conservation is literally seen within a context of luxury, which cannot be afforded.

Fear, superstition,food competition cause a chain reaction which is systematically flowing in a distinction of wildlife: hyenas, leopards, lions are poisoned, are perishing torturous and being mutilated in loops or even shot. Vultures, jackals or other scavengers get their nutrition from the poisoned carcass and perish themselves on a secondary disease. Even egrets living from poisoned flies and maggots fall victim to this uncontrollable vicious circle.

Between 1994 and 1996 a third of the lions population in the Serengeti National park perished due to a new virus of distemper and wildlife authorities in East Africa suspected a large broadening of this epidemic incident on to all National parks. This led to the inception of the “Uganda Lion Project”.

The prior task existed on the exploration of the protective status from the real cause, the implications and their based on protective measures of the lions populations in QUeen Elizabeth National Park(QENP). It was apparent, that for this project to succeed the cooperation with the local population was needed.

In 2000 the Dutch private zoo Amersfoort increased the projects budget considerably; hence the research could be extended to all wildlife Parks and for all wildlife species. The project was subsequently renamed “’Uganda Large Predator Program” (ULPP). Additional Parks were Lake Mburo NP, Murchison Falls NP and the Kidepo Valley NP, the new species were leopards, cheetahs, spotted and strip hyenas as well as the African wild dog.

Objectives

ULPP’s primary objective is the establishment of detailed databanks, divulgence of the various wildlife populations, realisation of danger zones and mainly the prevention and answer to conflicts between predators, domestic animals and the local community.
A sensitisation of the local population regarding possibilities to prevent danger and in addition to inform them about new income generating strategies through wildlife tourism is essential and crucial.

Code of practice:
The research project includes inter alia:

1. Investigation on populations of predator and prey (spatiotemporal data collection through transmitters)
2. Realisation of potential danger source
3. Salvage campaign for acute threatened species
4. Health monitoring
5. Sensitisation and education of local population regarding natural conservation
6. Training / formation of local and international groups of students in step with actual practice /field visits
7. Integration of scientific interested tourists into the routine of research

Fields of activity:

1. Queen Elizabeth National Park
2. Kidepo Valley National Park
3. Murchison Falls National Park
4. Lake Mburo National Park

Tour proposal:

Please find in below link the Safari tour proposals with the ULPP-Team.
Large Predator Project at Lake Mburo NP and Queen Elizabeth NP (7 Days)
Large Predator Project at Lake Mburo NP (2 Days)
Large Predator Project at Queen Elizabeth NP (5 Days)

Please contact us:
office@equatorialwildsafaris.com.

Yours- EWS Team