By Western Focus Team
Tomorrow (26th/7/024) all roads especially for wildlife conservationists/nature lovers will lead to Kanungu district to celebrate the World Chimpanzee day.
The celebration will place at Ngoto island Tourism Hub – Bwindi, in Kanungu District where the Bwindi Chimpanzees are unique in a way that they nest on the ground unlike other Chimps in other conservation areas, according to a statement released by Mwajuma .T. Adams the Kanungu District Communications Officer.
Mwajuma said the celebrations are being organized by the Uganda wildlife Authority (UWA) in collaboration with Jane Goodall Institute Kampala, Kanungu District Local government and Kinkizi Diocese with the main objective being to raise awareness about Chimpanzees in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which share the same habitat the Mountain Gorrila.
The World Chimpanzee day is celebrated annually on 14 July. It was set by the United Nations assembly. The date coincides with the start of a long term research conducted by Dr. Jane Goodall in Gombe stream National Park in Tanzania on 14/07/1960.
According to conservationists, Goodall’s research has contributed significantly to the protection of the Chimpanzees, its habitat and generated substantial revenue for Community development in areas close to Chimpanzee ranges with habituated families.
The theme of the commemoration of World Chimpanzee day is to explore intricate lives of our primate relatives, witnessing their intelligence, social bonds and fascinating behavior in the wild. In Uganda, the commemoration of the day focuses on raising the profile of Bwindi chimpanzees that are also endangered like their cousins; the Mountain Gorillas.
Kanungu district will celebrate the day under the theme; ‘Chimpanzees, Mountain Gorillas and people in a shared landscape.’
The Chief Warden Bwindi Mgahinga Conservation Area, Guma Nelson said, “we invite the conservation fraternity, Park edge communities close to the Chimpanzee range and all stakeholders to be part of the commemorative event and attach the same significance to protect gorillas to the Chimpanzees because we stand to benefit from the chimpanzees too.”
Rev. Kenneth Kanyankole the former Diocesan Secretary of Kinkiizi diocese
said, “Chimpanzee day should remind us that there is need to enhance tourism industry in Western Uganda.” “Conserving our environment that includes the protection of the God given animal adds value to our households,” Kanyankole said.
Guma appealed to Kanungu people to embrace tourism activities saying it is the only sure way that will boost their household incomes in a move to eradicate poverty. End.
