Summary:
- Uganda is home to about 5,000 chimpanzees, and they are a major draw for ecotourism.
KANUNGU: The Bishop of the Diocese of Kinkizi in Kanungu District, Rt Rev Dan Zoreka, has called upon the Kanungu community to increase the planting of native trees to support environmental conservation.
Bishop Zoreka made the call on Friday during the World Chimpanzee Day celebrations, organized by the Jane Goodall Institute in partnership with the Diocese of Kinkizi, the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), and the Kanungu District Local Government at Ngoto Island Tourism Hub – Bwindi, located in Bugandaro village in Kirima Sub County, Kanungu District.
The event, embraced by residents of Kirima and surrounding areas, featured extensive entertainment and messages focused on environmental conservation from the Batwa clan and neighboring communities. World Chimpanzee Day serves as a crucial reminder of the need to protect these remarkable primates and their environments for future generations.
Bishop Zoreka emphasized that such efforts are essential for maintaining healthy ecosystems and boosting tourism, which can drive economic transformation for local households.
CUE IN BISHOP ZOREKA….ON ECOSYSTEMS……..RR//
John Makumba, the Director of Conservation Tourism at UWA, highlighted the urgent need to protect chimpanzees, a cause that has long been neglected. Makumba announced that UWA will allocate funds to facilitate the habituation of chimpanzees in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, with the animals to be safeguarded in the Ngoto Tourism Camp under the Diocese of Kinkizi.
CUE IN MAKUMBA…..ON CHIMPANZEE……..ENG//
Gad Ahimbisibwe Rugaju, the Kanungu District Deputy RDC, noted that tourists visiting national parks and wildlife reserves to see chimpanzees contribute to local economies by spending on lodging, food, guides, and other services, which significantly boosts total tourism revenue and helps combat climate change.
CUE IN RUGAJU…..ON CHIMPANZEE……..RR//
Byamukama James, the Executive Director of the Jane Goodall Institute, spoke about the special connection between chimpanzees and humans, emphasizing their behavioral and social similarities. He praised Dr. Jane Goodall, who at the age of 26 began her groundbreaking research on chimpanzees in Tanzania. Dr. Goodall’s discoveries, including the use of tools and sign language by chimpanzees, have significantly contributed to our understanding of these primates.
Byamukama stressed that World Chimpanzee Day reinforces the importance of protecting not only chimpanzees but also all forest species that play a crucial role in environmental conservation.
CUE IN BYAMUKAMA…..ON CELEBRATIONS……..ENG//
However, the main threats to chimpanzees are habitat loss, especially deforestation, disease, human-wildlife conflict, and poaching, particularly for bush meat. Uganda is home to about 5,000 chimpanzees, and they are a major draw for ecotourism.
