The Chimpanzees of Uganda
Information, Background, Places for Chimpanzee Tracking (Trekking) in Uganda courtesy of Kabiza Wilderness Safaris.
Chimpanzees
are found from Western Africa across the continent to East Africa.
There are over 5000 chimpanzees found
in Uganda many of them in National Parks while others are in Wildlife Preserves
and other places that they find conducive to their lifestyle. It is
said that at one time there 50,000 or more in Uganda, but due to encroachment
of villages and settlements, the trapping of chimpanzees, or simply be used
for target practice during the civil unrest in Uganda.
In the Parks and the Wildlife Reserves they are protected and there are ongoing research into the habits and nature of chimpanzees.
Visitors can even assist researchers and remain the various forests with the chimpanzees for one or several days. (a cost is involved)
There are three types of Chimpanzees and the Ugandan Chimpanzee is a part of the chimpanzees found central and east Africa, Pan Troglodytes Schweinfurthi.
They are our closest relative in the animal kingdom, 98.9% of the same genes as man.
Chimpanzees though smaller in size than man, are about 5 times stronger. They weigh for males around 150 pounds while females are around 110 to 115 pounds. When they age many of them actually bald somewhat. They move in groups of Twenty to a hundred. Forage for food and build nests, play and sleep in nests made in trees.
They primarily eat fruit, leaves, flowers, seeds but have been observed to kills other monkeys. In the Kalinzu Forest in Uganda, researchers have observed them eating red-tailed monkeys.
Chimpanzees will use tools such as sticks to gather termites, use rocks to open nuts and other things that would be considered tools.
There is no breeding season and females will give birth every 4 to five years.
Uganda is the perfect place to see both Chimpanzees and Mountain Gorillas up close.
Most Chimpanzees that you will see up close as a visitor to Uganda are habituated, which means that they have become accustomed to be near humans. Though it is lower in price to track Chimpanzees, there is still a daily limit and a limit to the size of the group going tracking (trekking).