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East Africa > Uganda > Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve (TSWR)
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Summary
Site characteristics
Toro Semliki Wildlife Reserve is located in western Uganda, between 00 50’–10 05’N, 300 20’–300 35’E, covering an area of 548 km2), that spans across Ntoroko and Kabarole districts (Samson, 2012) . It was originally established as a game reserve in 1926 with a major aim of protecting the large number of Uganda Kobs in the area (Lamprey and Michelmore, 1996). The Reserve is set on the floor a rift valley landscape, between the Rwenzori Mountains, Kijura Escarpment, and Lake Albert, hence its a relatively low altitude starting from around 700m above sea level. The area experiences two distinct Wet seasons (March to May and August to November) with hot temperatures reach around 30°C during daytime and drop up to 18°C during nighttime.
The dominant vegetation type is the open acacia-combretum woodland and grassy savannah, interspersed with patches of Borassus palm forest, significant belts of riparian woodland along the main watercourses, as well as some extensive swamps towards Lake Albert (Hunt and McGrew 2002). The most common main canopy riverine tree species is Ugandan ironwood (Cynometra alexandri), followed by Millettia dura and Kigelia africana. The understory is dominated by Beilschmiedia ugandensis. Other common species include; Celtis africana, C. intergrifolia, C. mildbraedii, C. brownii, Albizia grandibracteata, A. coriaria, Chrysophyllum sp., Phoenix reclinata, Polyscias fulva, and Cola gigantea (Hunt & Lee, 2020; from SCP records)
Mammalian species commonly sited at the reserve include Elephant, Buffalo, Uganda Kob, Waterbuck, Warthog, Giant Forest Hog and Hippopotamus. The area boosts a diverse avian population, with a checklist reaching over 462 bird speciesPrimates are also fairly represented at site, with species such as Baboons, and Monkeys including Vervet, Red-tailed, and Black and White Colobus thriving in the area (UWA, 2019).
Four communities living around the reserve namely; Karugutu-Kyabandara community, Rwebisengo community, Ntoroko fishing community, and Kasesenge–Kyakabaseke community (UWA, 2019)
Great apes particularly the chimpanzees are registered at the reserve, with over three chimpanzee communities (Hunt & Lee, 2020): Mugiri community with roughly 150 chimpanzees resident in Mugiri River Forest: Nyabaroga community which speculated to be relatively safe and supporting about 50 individuals, UWA rangers still report pant-hoots there: Muzizi community; Pant-hoots and chimp nests were observed in Muzizi River forest several times for period 1996 and 1997. However subsequent visits to the same area in 2008, showed this forest block had disappeared due to illegal logging hence status of chimpanzees here is unknown.
Table 1. Basic site information for Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve (TSWR)
| Species | Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii |
| Area | 548 |
| Coordinates | 0.897222° N 30.363333° E |
| Type of site | Conservation area |
| Habitat types | Subtropical/tropical swamp forest, Savanna, Shrubland, Grassland |
| Type of governance | Governance by government |
Ape status
Table 2. Ape population estimates reported for Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve (TSWR)
| 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 | 1999 | 66.06(40-90) | Toro Semliki WR | Line transects | (Plumptre, Cox & Mugume 2003) | Survey classified site as a low density site hence density estimates were not possible. Only 60 nest building chimpanzees were estimated by study |
Threats
Table 3. Threats to apes reported for Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve (TSWR)
| 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 increased in coverage 0.56%-0.99% 1995-2006 (Patrick et al.,2012) |
Ongoing: 1995 |
| 5 Biological resource use | 5.3.1 Subsistence logging | Present (unknown severity) | Illegal logging for charcoal burning (Hunt & Lee, 2020) | On going; first documented in1996 |
| 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) | On going; first documented in1996 |
| 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 2000 (Hunt & Lee, 2020: Patrick et al., 2012: Edroma et al., 1997) | On going less severe: 1997 |
| 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 | On going:1997 |
| 5 Biological resource use | 5.1 Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Present (unknown severity) | Unintentional effect on Chimpanzees. Poaching by organized groups particularly from Congo using snares, dogs, automatic weapons, spears (Patrick et al., 2012) | On going, less intense: 1978 |
| 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. Expected to be more severe in the near future |
Conservation activities
Table 4. Conservation activities reported for Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve (TSWR)
| Category | Specific activity | Description | Implementing organization(s) | Year of activity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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. | WCS, USAID WILD project and UWA | Ongoing: 2007 |
| 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 | Uganda Wildlife Authority and Uganda government | Near future |
| 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 |
Challenges
Table 5. Challenges reported for Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve (TSWR)
| 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 (TSWR)
| 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 (TSWR)
| Behavior | Source |
|---|---|
| Selective insectivory | Webster et al. 2014 |
| Well digging by wild chimpanzees | 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 completed by: Steven Joel Basiibye basiibyestevens5@gmail.com Date: 2024-11-20 07:03:00