By Jumah Kakomo
Uganda now ranks among the top most biodiversity rich countries globally hosting 53.9% of the world’s remaining population of mountain Gorillas, 11% of the world’s recorded species of birds which is 50% of Africa’s bird species richness, 8% of the global mammal diversity which is 39% of Africa’s mammal richness, 19% of Africa’s Amphibian species richness, 14% of Africa’s reptile species richness and 1,249 recorded species of butterflies.
The minister for tourism, wildlife and antiquities Tom Butiime has attributed the increase to the enhanced integrity of the protected Areas arising from political stability and associated sustainable security thus a general increase in wildlife population.
“Between 1983 and 2021, buffalos have increased from 25,000 to 44,163, Elephants from 2000 to 7,975 and Giraffes from 350 t0 2,072. Similarly, mountain Gorillas have increased from 320 to 459 between 1999 and 2022. Government has been able to successfully reintroduce Rhinos back to Uganda that had gone extinct in early 1980’s.” said Butiime
Minister Tom Butiime, made the revelation at Uganda Media Centre ahead of celebrating, United Nations World Wildlife Day due on 3rd March 2022 under the theme “Recovering Key SPECIES FOR Ecosystem restoration”.
Uganda’s national celebrations will be held at the Uganda wildlife conservation education Centre (UWEC) in Entebbe, Wakiso district and President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni will be the chief guest.
On 20th, December 2013, the sixty-eight sessions of the United Nations general assembly proclaimed 3rd March of every year as World Wildlife Day to celebrate the many beautiful and varied forms of wild fauna and flora and to raise awareness of the several benefits the conservation provides to humanity.
Minister adds that more efforts are required to recover declining populations such as Chimpanzees, Lions among others.
” We particularly need to address poaching, habitat loss, retaliatory killings and climate change effects among others” Butiime said.
