How many chimpanzees are in Kibale forest national park

How many chimpanzees are in Kibale forest national park: Chimpanzees are one of the most loved primate species in Uganda after mountain gorillas. These wild animals are said to be close relatives to human beings a reason as to why tourists travel from their homes and come to spend some quality time with them. In Kibale forest national park is where you find the highest population of chimpanzees as well as the highest number of families.

Kibale forest national park was gazetted in 1932 but established as a national park in 1993 to protect the endangered species of chimpanzees as well as the tropical forest. As of today, the national park covers a total area of 776 sq. km which are managed by Uganda Wildlife Authority a government body in charge of tourism.

Uganda wildlife authority has played an important role of training rangers and employing medical personnel in Kibale forest national park. The armed ranger guides together with researchers check on these chimpanzees every day to make sure that they are safe and healthy. In case a chimpanzee is seen with an issue, they do report to the doctors who come and treat them in their natural habitat. In case of new births, they do recordings and they also do the population census o these chimpanzees.

With a lot of work done by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, the population has been able to increase in the past years. The last population census carried out in Kibale forest national park indicated that over 1500 chimpanzee individuals have found their home in the tropical rainforest. The increase in population is due to new births even though there are always deaths and also the good work done by people who work in the park.

Over 5000 chimpanzees are living in different areas of Uganda but the highest population is seen in Kibale forest national park. Other areas with endangered chimpanzees are Budongo forest next to Murchison falls national park, Kyambura gorge inside Queen Elizabeth national park, Kalinzu forest, Ngamba island sanctuary, and Maramagambo forest.

Kibale forest national park having the highest population densities of chimpanzees is the best area to sight endangered chimpanzees. It receives the highest number of visitors in Uganda because it has the highest number of habituated chimpanzees and it’s the only place where chimpanzee habituation does take place for a whole day.

Tourists that are interested in seeing the chimpanzees of Kibale forest national park must be ready to buy the chimpanzee tracking permits which allow tourists to be around the chimpanzees for 1 hour and those that want full habituation with the chimpanzees must purchase chimpanzee habituation permits. To find the chimpanzee ermits still available, it’s better you book 3-4 months or more before the visiting day.

Price of chimpanzee permits in Kibale forest national park.

Normal chimpanzee tracking permits in Kibale forest national park do cost $200 for foreign non-residents, $150 for foreign residents, and UGX150,000 East African citizens. The normal chimpanzee trekking permits are sold to those that want to be around chimpanzees for 1 hour.

Chimpanzee habituation permits cost $250 for foreign non-residents, $200 for foreign residents, and UGX200,000 for citizens of East African member states. The chimpanzee habituation permits are few in Kibale and tourists who are intending to do chimpanzee habituation need to book them when it’s still early to avoid last-minute booking disappointments.

How does chimpanzee tracking or chimpanzee habituation help to conserve chimpanzees?

Chimpanzee tracking and chimpanzee habituation are some of the most done activities in Uganda and this has helped in the conservation of these primate species. To see the chimpanzees, you must pay some amount of money to Uganda Wildlife Authority which manages and controls activities in Kibale forest national park.

The $200 for foreign non-residents, $150 for foreign residents, and UGX150,000 for East African citizens aid in the conservation of chimpanzees. Part of the money paid is used to pay armed ranger guides who stay in the park to make sure these primates are safe and healthy, and another money is used to pay researchers who help in the habituation of chimpanzees

The money collected from chimpanzee permits is also used to buy medicine for sick or unhealthy animals and pays doctors who treat the sick ones, and lastly, part of the money is given to the communities living around the park to help them know that these chimpanzees are of great importance.

Threats to chimpanzees

There are no serious threats to the chimpanzees of Kibale forest national park because Uganda Wildlife Authority is doing a great job of controlling and managing the park activities. The main threat to chimpanzees would be diseases but there are medical personnel who treat these primates in case any if found unhealthy.

Habitat loss is no longer a threat in Kibale forest national park and this is because the communities around the park have been educated about the goodness of these chimpanzees therefore the people never steal or destroy vegetation of the park for activities like settlement and firewood.

There is no hunting and bushmeat in Kibale forest national park and this is because armed ranger guides are all over the park to see if anyone gets in the forest. The people have been taught about the goodness of wildlife animals and since they are given a certain percentage of money got from tourism there is no need for them to kill animals.

Best time to visit the chimpanzees of Kibale forest national park?

I f you have questions about what would be the best time to visit Kibale, we got you answered. Travelers interested in spending time with the chimpanzees of Kibale forest national park may visit at any time of the year because it will be open. The dry season which occurs from June to September and December to February is however the best time to visit Kibale forest. This is because there is little or no rainfall keeping the trails dry and passable, vegetation is short and thin with good views of chimpanzees, and roads leading to the park are passable.

Travelers may also visit Kibale forest national park in the rainy season from March to May and October to November however this favors budget travelers because lodges are discounted. The rainy season is not the best because it has plenty of rainfall that makes trekking trails slippery, vegetation is thick with unclear views of wildlife, and roads leading to the park are in poor condition.