UWA Translocates 15 Rothschild Giraffes to Pian Upe Game Reserve
With an aim of restoring Uganda’s wildlife and biological diversity, UWA has translocated 15 Rothschild giraffes to Pian Upe reserve in Nakapiripiriti district northeastern Uganda. The translocation was after 23 years of non-existent since 1996 when the last giraffe was seen in the reserve. Giraffes were transferred in two sets. The first set of 5 giraffes was translocated on 27th October 2019 and the rest ten translocated some days after. In the 1980s Pian Upe game reserve was home to numerous giraffes, which were later, lost to poaching, armed conflicts and trophy hunting in the black market. The translocation of giraffes to Pian Upe is aimed at restoring and managing viable giraffes that got extinct. This initiative also aimed at promoting tourism in Pian Upe game reserve encouraging more travelers to visit northeastern Uganda which brings in increased foreign exchange income to the Uganda tourism industry. Giraffe translocation comes a year after UWA translocated 92 impalas into Pian Upe game reserve al aimed at providing travelers with a variety of animals to see in the game reserve. Pain Upe game reserve is one of the must-visit travel destinations on Uganda safaris to northeastern Uganda. The game reserve is home to numerous roan antelopes, zebras, cheetahs and elands among other wild animals. Altogether 15 giraffes comprised of 5 males and 10 females were successfully translocated to Pian Upe game reserve.
How was translocation done?
The process of translocation giraffes from Murchison falls national park to Pian Upe game reserve was a long process. It all started with a survey in the two areas to confirm the stability of Murchison Falls and the suitability of the Pian Upe game reserve. Thereafter, thorough health checks of giraffes were conducted to confirm they were free from any diseases. Three days wild action was conducted to ensure the whole pace was safe. 10 giraffes were darted, captured and kept in Boma for 2 days before the transfer to Pian Upe game reserve. After 2 days of resting at the Tangi gate of Murchison falls park, they were loaded onto a truck and driven throughout the night. Despite the bumpy dirt road, giraffes reached Pian Upe reserve in good condition and they are doing well in their new home! The 17 hours drive from Murchison falls to Pian Upe started at 3 am with several stopovers to feed giraffes keeping them strong throughout. A team of wildlife rangers, veterinarians, conservationists, animal translocation experts and lad technicians assigned from Uganda Wildlife Authority conducted the translocation.
Getting to Pian Upe
After 17 hours of driving, the long-awaited towers finally reached Pian Upe game reserve amidst cheers by another team of park rangers and local people who had been notified about the translocation plans two weeks before. Also, communities in Murchison falls park had been notified about the then planned departure of giraffes so as not to be shocked by seeing some giraffes being taken away. Giraffes arrived at the scene around 8 pm and were left to sty on trucks for a night and released the next morning. Among the people that received giraffes at Pain Upe include Dr Patrick Atimnedi, the senior manager veterinary services unit, Leonard Wamakote, member of UWA Board of Trustees, community members, UWEC executive director, UWA management and leaders of districts neighboring the community. Giraffes were offloaded at 7:0aam and they gladly ran into freedom.
What is expected?
Uganda wildlife authority and local communities expect lots of benefits following the reintroduction of giraffes in the Pian Upe game reserve. Firstly, UWA expects increased visitor numbers to this game reserve. Also, local people in the neighboring communities will earn from the sale of crafts and local foods among others. Foreign exchange earnings will rise from park entrance fees. This will improve the country’s gross domestic product. Wildlife safaris to Pian Upe game reserve will complement Uganda mountaineering safaris to Mt Elgon.
Location of Pian Upe game reserve
Spreading over 2,043 square kilometers, Pian Upe game reserve is located in Okududu village, Namalu Sub County shared by Nakapiripiriti and Amudat districts of northeastern Uganda. Napak, Katakwi, Kumi, Kween, Bulambuli, and Bukedea districts border Pian Upe game reserve. The reserve is Uganda’s second-largest protected area after Murchison falls national park and is managed by the Mount Elgon Conservation Area. For the past years, the Pian Upe game reserve has been receiving 3% of total visitor numbers to Uganda. This number is expected to rise given an increase in the population of wild animals in the game reserve.
Conclusively, the translocation of giraffes to the Pian Upe game reserve is a great achievement for Uganda Wildlife Authority and the whole tourism fraternity. The initiative will increase visitor numbers to northeastern Uganda, generating increased government revenue and wellbeing of local people in the neighboring communities.
