Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve
East Africa > Uganda > Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve
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Summary
- Eastern chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) are present in Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve.
- The population size was estimated at approximately 66 individuals in 1999.
- The population trend is unknown.
Site characteristics
Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve is situated in western Uganda, spanning Ntoroko and Kabarole districts and covering 548 km² (Samson 2012). Originally established as a game reserve in 1926, its primary purpose was to protect the large Uganda kob populations in the area (Lamprey & Michelmore 1996). Positioned within a Rift Valley landscape, the reserve is flanked by the Rwenzori Mountains, Kijura Escarpment, and Lake Albert, with an altitude starting at approximately 700 meters above sea level. The reserve's dominant vegetation consists of open acacia-combretum woodland and grassy savanna, interspersed with Borassus palm forests, riparian woodlands along watercourses, and extensive swamps near Lake Albert (Hunt & McGrew 2002). The main riverine canopy tree is Ugandan ironwood (Cynometra alexandri), followed by Millettia dura and Kigelia africana, with an understory primarily made up of Beilschmiedia ugandensis (Hunt & Lee 2020; SCP records). The reserve supports a diverse array of wildlife, including elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, warthogs, giant forest hogs, and hippopotamuses. It also boasts over 462 bird species and is home to various primates, including chimpanzees, baboons, vervet monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, and black-and-white colobus monkeys (UWA 2019). Four main communities surround the reserve: Karugutu-Kyabandara, Rwebisengo, Ntoroko fishing community, and Kasesenge-Kyakabaseke (UWA 2019).
Table 1. Basic site information for Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve
| Species | 'Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii |
| Area | 548 km² |
| Coordinates | Lat: 0.89722 , Lon: 30.36333 |
| Type of site | Conservation area |
| Habitat types | Subtropical/tropical swamp forest, Savanna, Shrubland, Grassland |
| Type of governance | Governance by government |
IUCN habitat categories Site designations
Ape status
There are three known chimpanzee communities in the reserve (Hunt & Lee 2020): Mugiri community with roughly 150 chimpanzees; Nyabaroga community, which is speculated to be relatively safe and supporting about 50 individuals; and Muzizi community, where pant-hoots and chimp nests were observed in Muzizi River forest several times between 1996 and 1997. However subsequent visits to the same area in 2008, showed this forest block had disappeared due to illegal logging, so the status of chimpanzees here is unknown.
Table 2. Ape population estimates reported for Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve
| Species | Year | Occurrence | Encounter or vistation rate (nests/km; ind/day) | Density estimate [ind./ km²] (95% CI) | Abundance estimate (95% CI) | Survey area | Sampling method | Analytical framework | Source | Comments | A.P.E.S. database ID |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii | 1999 | Present | 66.06 (40-90) | Toro Semliki WR | Line transects | Distance sampling (decay time unknown) | Plumptre, Cox & Mugume 2003 | Survey classified site as a low density site. Only 60 nest building chimpanzees were estimated by study. |
Threats
Table 3. Threats to apes reported for Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve
| Category | Specific threats | Threat level | Description | Year of threat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Agriculture & aquaculture | 2.1 Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Present (unknown severity) | The range of the Mugiri chimpanzees is limited to the northeast by tea estates (Samson 2012). Tea plantations have increased in coverage (Patrick et al.2012). | Ongoing (2012) |
| 5 Biological resource use | 5.3.1 Subsistence logging | Present (unknown severity) | Illegal logging for charcoal burning (Hunt & Lee 2020). | 1996-Ongoing (2020) |
| 2 Agriculture & aquaculture | 2.1.2 Small-holder farming | Present (unknown severity) | Peasant holdings at the top of the escarpment (Samson 2012). | Ongoing (2012) |
| 5 Biological resource use | 5.3.2 Commercial logging | Present (unknown severity) | The Muzizi River forest block disappeared by 2008 due to deforestation from illegal logging (Hunt & Lee 2020). | 1996-Ongoing (2020) |
| 6 Human intrusions & disturbance | 6.2 War, civil unrest & military exercises | Present (unknown severity) | Political instability involving Allied Democratic Front ADF counter response by Uganda Peoples Defense Force UPDF, with activities such as gunfire disrupt ranges of chimpanzees. Started around 1997 and peaked in 2000 (Hunt & Lee 2020; Patrick et al. 2012; Edroma et al. 1997). | 1997-2000 |
| 3 Energy production & mining | 3.1 Oil & gas drilling | Present (unknown severity) | Since 1997 seismic surveys in the reserve and outside the reserve are reported. | 1997-Ongoing (2024) |
| 5 Biological resource use | 5.1.2 Unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target) | Present (unknown severity) | Unintentional effect on chimpanzees. Poaching by organized groups particularly from Congo using snares, dogs, automatic weapons, spears (Patrick et al. 2012) | 1978-Ongoing (2024) |
| 11 Climate change & severe weather | 11.1 Habitat shifting & alteration | Present (unknown severity) | Sensitivity of habitats to climate variability, rainfall variations affecting frequency and intensity of fires (Patrick et al., 2012)
Chimpanzees live in a relatively dry habitat affected by periodic droughts causing drying up of water points (UWA,2020) |
Ongoing (2012) |
Conservation activities
Table 4. Conservation activities reported for Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve
| Category | Specific activity | Description | Implementing organization(s) | Year of activity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Counter-wildlife crime | 2.13 Provide sustainable alternative livelihoods; establish fish- or domestic meat farms | WCS secured support through the USAID WILD project to work with communities next to the Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve. The aim was to reduce pressure on natural resources and elicit community support for conservation efforts. This is done through engaging environmentally friendly tourism-related enterprises such as beekeeping, art and crafts, music, dance and drama to generate income. | Wildlife Conservation Society, USAID WILD project, Uganda Wildlife Authority | Ongoing (2007) |
| 2 Counter-wildlife crime | 2.3 Conduct regular anti-poaching patrols | Increased patrol efforts and improved report by communities to curb poaching. | Uganda Wildlife Authority | Ongoing (2012) |
| 4 Education & awareness | 4.2 Involve local community in ape research and conservation management | Project takes in locals as volunteers and also employ local stuff to work as field assistants (Hunt & Lee, 2020). | Semliki Chimpanzee Project | Ongoing (1996) |
| 5 Protection & restoration | 5.1 Create buffer zones around protected ape habitat | Management zones were created which include; Tourism, Administrative and Wilderness zones (UWA, 2020). Wilderness zones are established to protect critical habitat for endangered and vulnerable species such as chimpanzees. | Uganda Wildlife Authority | Ongoing (2020) |
| 5 Protection & restoration | 5.2 Legally protect ape habitat | Proposal to elevate status from Wildlife reserve to National Park, so as to afford more protection to area. Currently it is classified as a wildlife reserve. | Uganda Wildlife Authority and Uganda government | 1926-Ongoing (2024) |
Conservation activities list (Junker et al. 2017)
Challenges
Table 5. Challenges reported for Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve
| Challenges | Specific challenges | Source | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Resources and capacity | 2.2 Lack of staff | Hunt & Lee 2020; UWA 2020 | 2012 |
| 2 Resources and capacity | 2.3 General lack of funding | Hunt & Lee 2020; UWA 2020 | 2012 |
| 4 Institutional support | 4.1 Lack of law enforcement | Hunt & Lee 2020: Patrick et al. 2012 | 2012 |
| 2 Resources and capacity | 2.1 Lack of capacity/training | UWA 2020 | 2020 |
| 2 Resources and capacity | 2.5 Lack of equipment/transportation | UWA 2020 | 2020 |
| 6 Safety and stability | 6.3 Civil unrest/war | Patrick et al. 2012 | 1997 |
| 3 Engaged community | 3.1 General lack of community engagement or support | UWA 2020 | 2020 |
Enablers
Table 6. Enablers reported for Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve
| Enablers | Specific enablers | Source | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Resources and capacity | 2.1 Sufficient staff | UWA 2020 | |
| 2 Resources and capacity | 2.2 Sufficient funding | UWA 2020 | |
| 4 Institutional support | 4.2 Strong government support | UWA 2020 | |
| 3 Engaged community | 3.6 Local community engagement and support | UWA 2020 | |
| Other (Elevate status from Wildlife reserve to National Park)) | UWA 2020 | 2020 |
Research activities
Researchers from the University of Indiana have been studying chimpanzees in the riverine forest at Mugiri under The Semliki Chimpanzee Project, founded in 1996.
Documented behaviours
Table 7. Behaviours documented for Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve
| Behavior | Source |
|---|---|
| Selective insectivory | Webster et al. 2014 |
| Well digging | McGrew et al. 2007 |
| Coprophagy | Payne et al. 2008 |
| Grooming Hand-Clasp | Webster et al. 2019 |
| Chimpanzee nesting (morphology and ecology of arboreal sleeping platforms) | Samson 2012 |
| Chimpanzee pith folding | McGrew & Hunt 2011 |
Exposure to climate change impacts
External links
Relevant datasets
References
Edroma, E., Rosen, N. and Miller, P. 1997. (eds) Conserving the Chimpanzees of Uganda. Population and habitat viability assessment for Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii. IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group, Apple Valley, MN.
Hunt, K. D. & Lee, G.J. (2020). "The Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve". Bloomington, Indiana, United States: Indiana University: Semliki Chimpanzee Project. https://semliki.sitehost.iu.edu/. Retrieved on 5th November 2024.
Hunt, K. D., & McGrew, W. C. (2002). Chimpanzees in the dry habitats of Assirik, Senegal and Semliki wildlife reserve, Uganda. Behavioural diversity in chimpanzees and bonobos, 1, 35-51.
Lamprey, R. H., & Michelmore, F. (1996). The wildlife protected areas of Uganda: preliminary aerial survey results and their assessment plus initial recommendations. Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquities.
McGrew, W. C., & Hunt, K. D. (2011). < Note> Chimpanzee Pith-Folding at Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve, Uganda. Pan Africa News, 18(2), 15-18.
McGrew, W. C., Marchant, L. F., & Hunt, K. D. (2007). Etho-archaeology of manual laterality: Well digging by wild chimpanzees. Folia Primatologica, 78(4), 240-244.
McLennan, M. R. (2011). < Note> Preliminary Observations of Hand-Clasp Grooming by Chimpanzees at Bulindi, Uganda. Pan Africa News, 18(2), 18-20.
Patrick, R., Patrick, D., & Hunt, K. D. (2012). Long term changes at Toro-Semliki wildlife reserve. Long-Term Changes in Africa’s Rift Valley., 56-69.
Payne, C. L. R., Webster, T. H., & Hunt, K. D. (2008). < Note> Coprophagy by the semi-habituated chimpanzees of Semliki, Uganda. Pan Africa News, 15(2), 29-32.
Plumptre, A. J., Cox, D., & Mugume, S. (2003). The status of chimpanzees in Uganda. Albertine Rift Technical Report Series No. 2. Wildlife Conservation Society
Samson, D. R. (2012). The chimpanzee nest quantified: morphology and ecology of arboreal sleeping platforms within the dry habitat site of Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve, Uganda. Primates, 53, 357-364.
UWA. (2020). Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve General Management Plan 2020/21 – 2029/30. Kampala, Uganda
Uganda Wildlife Authority (2019). "Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve". Kampala, Uganda. https://ugandawildlife.org/wildlifereserves/toro-semliki/. Retrieved on 5th November 2024.
WCS. (2021). Human Livelihoods. https://programs.wcs.org/uganda/Initiatives/Human-Livelihoods.aspx. Retrieved on 20th November, 2024.
Webster, T. H., Hodson, P. R., & Hunt, K. D. (2009). < Note> Grooming Hand-Clasp by Chimpanzees of the Mugiri Community, Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve, Uganda. Pan Africa News, 16(1), 5-7.
Webster, T. H., McGrew, W. C., Marchant, L. F., Payne, C. L., & Hunt, K. D. (2014). Selective insectivory at Toro-Semliki, Uganda: Comparative analyses suggest no ‘savanna’chimpanzee pattern. Journal of human evolution, 71, 20-27.
Page created by: Steven Joel Basiibye Date: 2024-11-01