Kibale National Park
Summary
- Eastern chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) are present in Kibale National Park.
- The population size is unknown.
- The chimpanzee population trend is unknown.
- The site has a total size of 795 km².
- Hunting and snare injuries are a key threat to chimpanzees.
- Conservation activities have focused on veterinary intervention and snare removal.
Site characteristics
Kibale National Park is situated in southwestern Uganda. The park is contiguous with Queen Elizabeth National Park in the south. Established in 1993, Kibale National Park is famously known for the long-term research of chimpanzee communities inhabiting the area (see Kanyawara and Ngogo sites). In addition to the eastern chimpanzee, the park is home to other species of global conservation concern, including the forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis), western red colobus (Procolobus badius), and L'Hoest's monkey (Cercopithecus l’hoesti) (BirdLife International 2020). With at least 339 bird species, the site is an Important Bird Area (BirdLife International 2020).
Table 1. Basic site information for Kibale National Park
| Area | 795 km² |
| Coordinates | 0.487463 N, 30.390052 E |
| Designation | National Park |
| Habitat types |
Ape status
Table 2. Ape population estimates in Kibale National Park
| Species | Year | Abundance estimate (95% CI) | Density estimate [ind./ km²] (95% CI) | Encounter rate (nests/km) | Area | Method | Source | Comments | A.P.E.S. database ID |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii |
Threats
Table 3. Threats to apes in Kibale National Park
| Category | Specific threats | Threat level | Quantified severity | Description | Year of threat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Residential & commercial development | Unknown | ||||
| 2. Agriculture & aquaculture | Unknown | ||||
| 3. Energy production & mining | Unknown | ||||
| 4. Transportation & service corridors | Unknown | ||||
| 5. Biological resource use | 5.1 Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | High | Between 1997 and 2000, 2,290 snares were removed in Kibale; based on the estimated snare density per sq. km,15,000 snares could be present at any given time (Wrangham & Mugume 2000). | Although snares are set up to mainly target small duikers and bushpigs, chimpanzees are at risk of falling victim to the snares and get severely maimed or killed (Dudley 2020). | Ongoing (2020) |
| 6. Human intrusion & disturbance | Unknown | ||||
| 7. Natural system modifications | Unknown | ||||
| 8. Invasive & other problematic species, genes, diseases | Unknown | ||||
| 9. Pollution | Unknown | ||||
| 10. Geological Events | Absent | ||||
| 11. Climate change & severe weather | Unknown | ||||
| 12. Other options | Unknown |
Conservation activities
The park is managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
Table 4. Conservation activities in Kibale National Park
| Category | Specific activity | Description | Year of activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Residential & commercial development | Not reported | ||
| 2. Agriculture & aquaculture | Not reported | ||
| 3. Energy production & mining | Not reported | ||
| 4. Transportation & service corridors | Not reported | ||
| 5. Biological resource use | 5.9. Regularly de-activate/remove ground snares | The Kibale Snare Removal Program (KSRP) was established in 1997 to reduce snaring in the park and involve the local community (Dudley 2020). | Ongoing (2020) |
| 6. Human intrusion & disturbance | Not reported | ||
| 7. Natural system modifications | Not reported | ||
| 8. Invasive & other problematic species, genes, diseases | Not reported | ||
| 9. Pollution | Not reported | ||
| 10. Education & Awareness | Not reported | ||
| 11. Habitat Protection | Not reported | ||
| 12. Species Management | 12.24. Rehabilitate injured/orphaned primates | Veterinary intervention when chimpanzees are injured by snares (Kibale Chimpanzee Project). | |
| 13. Livelihood; Economic & Other Incentives | Not reported |
Challenges
Table 5. Challenges reported for Kibale National Park
| Challenge | Source |
|---|---|
| Not reported |
Research activities
Kibale is an important site for research. Long-term projects based on the site include the Kibale Chimapanzee Project and the Kibale EcoHealth Project.
Changing perceptions of protected area benefits and problems around Kibale National Park, Uganda
Restoration Provides Hope for Faunal Recovery: Changes in Primate Abundance Over 45 Years in Kibale National Park, Uganda
Long‐term trends in fruit production in a tropical forest at Ngogo, Kibale National Park, Uganda
Recovery of tree and mammal communities during large‐scale forest regeneration in Kibale National Park, Uganda
Documented behaviours
Table 6. Ape behaviors reported for Kibale National Park
| Behavior | Source |
|---|---|
| Not reported |
External links
Relevant datasets
References
BirdLife International (2020). Important Bird Areas factsheet: Kibale National Park. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 21/10/2020.
Dudley, A. (2020). In Uganda, safeguarding chimpanzees against the scourge of snaring. Retrieved 21 October 2020 from Mongabay.com. Web site: https://news.mongabay.com/2020/10/in-uganda-safeguarding-chimpanzees-against-the-scourge-of-snaring/?fbclid=IwAR0qzwA0DmheeoKtcX4ZYdyNTJOGBJX7yf0gPTTri5XdDGjIL0dSFXzW3J0#
Wrangham, R., & Mugume, S. (2000). Snare Removal Program in Kibale National Park: a Preliminary Report. Pan Africa News, 7(2), 18-20.
Kibale Chimpanzee Project (n.d.). Veterinary Intervention. https://kibalechimpanzees.wordpress.com/veterinary-intervention/
Page completed by: A.P.E.S. Wiki Team Date: 05/12/2020