Wildlife authorities rescue baboon which has been invading shops in Kiryandongo

Wildlife authorities have rescued a baboon from Karuma Town Council, Kiryandongo District.
According to Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Center (UWEC) Public Relations Officer, Mr Eric Ntalo, the baboon was picked from the edge of “Grand Kew Garden"- Murchison Falls National Park on Friday by their team with the help of Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and a team from Paradise Wildlife Park in the U.K.
He said the baboon identified as David Karuma was relocated to Ayago, about 30km from Karuma Town.
“Our veterinary doctor darted the dominant male baboon popularly known as David Karuma with the intention of destabilising the social dynamics of the troop (group of baboons) that has been invading gardens and shops. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that they lose trust in the geographical point and move further into the protected area,” he said over the weekend.
Baboons are listed as a species of “least concern” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
In Uganda, they are found in all national parks apart from Rwenzori Mountains, Mount Elgon and Mgahinga. They are frequently seen by the roadside or scavenging near populated areas.

One of the reasons for their abundance, according to conservationists, is the fact that they are omnivorous, eating just about everything they come across, from small mammals, birds, insects to leaves, roots, grass, flowers and fruits. They also hunt other primates, small rodents and usually come into conflict with humans when they raid crops and orchards.
Mr Ntalo said they will continue to ensure that they prevent baboons from having easy access to human.
“We encourage hawkers in Karuma Town Council to keep rubbish secure in a baboon-proof dustbins and practice good waste management,” he added.
This was the first rescue and relocation exercise by the team using the newly acquired animal ambulance.
The first ever Wildlife Animal Ambulance in Uganda donated by Paradise Wildlife Park in UK is worth 50,000 pounds (about Shs230 million).
The executive director UWEC, Mr James Musinguzi commended the relationship between Uwec, Uwa and Paradise Wildlife Park in UK that enabled them rescue the baboon.
Between 2014 and 2019, Mr Musinguzi said Uwec managed to rescue 284 mammals, 441 birds, 180 reptiles.

“And this was done using other vehicles. Therefore, acquiring a new animal ambulance is a big achievement and more animals are going to be rescued,’’ he said.

In February 2014, Uwec rescued four shoebill storks from different parts of the country and took them to Entebbe sanctuary.
One of the birds was picked from near Mabamba wetland in Wakiso District while the three were rescued from Kyere and Kapir Village in Mbale District from people who officials said intended to sell them off. The suspected smugglers, however, evaded arrest.

In Dec 2016 Twiki, a one-week-old elephant was also rescued by a fisherman after it was abandoned by its herd at the shores of Hamukungu Island on Lake George in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
The calf had got stuck in the mud.

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