By Abdullahi Lukman
Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has begun relocating 12 endangered Nubian giraffes from Murchison Falls National Park to Ajai Wildlife Reserve in a move aimed at safeguarding the species, expanding its population and restoring wildlife in protected areas.
The translocation exercise is designed to establish a new breeding population about 100 kilometres away from Murchison Falls, where increasing oil exploration, climate change, habitat degradation and human activities pose growing threats to wildlife.
According to UWA Assistant Commissioner for Veterinary Services, Patrick Atimnedi, the relocation is a strategic conservation measure to reduce the risk of losing the species if disaster strikes its primary habitat.
“There is a lot of oil and gas activity going on here, alongside tourism development, climate change, bush encroachment and invasive species. Establishing another population within the same conservation landscape is the right conservation decision,” he said.
Uganda is preparing to produce its first commercial oil from the Murchison Falls region, where about 40 per cent of the country’s oil reserves are located. In June 2023, TotalEnergies commenced drilling under the Tilenga oil project inside the national park, raising concerns among conservationists over the long-term impact on wildlife.
Wildlife officials said relocating some of the giraffes would spread the population across different protected areas, reducing pressure on Murchison Falls and improving the species’ chances of survival.
The operation involves sedating the giraffes before transporting them by truck to the 166-square-kilometre Ajai Wildlife Reserve, where rangers have prepared for their arrival.
Ajai Wildlife Reserve, established in 1937, once supported a rich variety of wildlife before rampant poaching and years of insecurity in the 1980s wiped out most animal populations. The return of the Nubian giraffes forms part of a broader ecological restoration programme.
The reserve is also receiving other wildlife species, including southern white rhinos, buffaloes, zebras and Uganda kobs, as authorities work to rebuild its biodiversity and boost tourism.
Conservation efforts have contributed significantly to the recovery of the Nubian giraffe population in Uganda. From fewer than 200 individuals just over a decade ago, the species has steadily increased through sustained protection and management initiatives.
To strengthen the restoration programme, sections of Ajai Wildlife Reserve have been fenced, ranger patrols have been expanded and neighbouring communities have been sensitised on the importance of wildlife conservation while benefiting from tourism revenue.
Senior Warden at Ajai Wildlife Reserve, Wilson Katabigwa, said local residents, including those once involved in poaching, have welcomed the return of the giraffes and are eager to see wildlife restored to the area.
Authorities said community members will be invited to view the giraffes after the relocation is completed, marking the return of a species that disappeared from the reserve several decades ago.
