THE MGAHINGA GORILLA NATIONAL PARK

WILDLIFE CLUBS OF UGANDA 1992: pp. 27-29.
By Klaus J. Sucker

The MGAHINGA GORILLA NATIONAL PARK was gazetted in May 1991. Before the conservation area was know as the GORILLA GAME RESERVE, as MGAHINGA FOREST RESERVE or KIGEZI GORILLA RESERVE. The name of the project was altered according to the official name of the conservation-area in May 1991.

The MGAHINGA GORILLA NATIONAL PARK is an important natural resource and rich in plants and animals. In Uganda it is one of the few areas containing montane and alpine vegetation (2350 -4127 m a.s.l.). The new NATIONAL PARK is part of the habitat for one of the two remaining populations of the Mountain- Gorilla (gorilla beringei). Both populations are in decline and the sub-species is listed as "endangered" in the Red Data Book; about 600 individuals survive. The population using the area of MGAHINGA GORILLA NATIONAL PARK consists of about 45 gorillas, but all use the area in Uganda on a part-time -basis. Other wild animals within the park are Golden Monkeys, Blue Monkeys, Elephants, Buffaloes, Giant Forest Hogs, Golden Cats, Bushbucks, Black-fronted Duikers and Tree-Hyraxes, among others.

The MGAHINGA GORILLA NATIONAL PARK PROJECT is supported mainly by the GERMAN ANIMAL PROTECTION SOCIETY, Deutscher Tierschutzbund e. v. and CIM (Centrum for International Development and Migration). The Project is operating in close cooperation with the MINISTRY OF TOURISM, WILDLIFE AND ANTIQUITIES, especially with UGANDA NATIONAL PARKS and the INSTITUTE OF TROPICAL FOREST CONSERVATION. The Project is grateful for the generous assistance and cooperation of UGANDA GAME DEPARTMENT in the past and during the period of the change of the conservation status.

The map on page 29 indicates same places of interest within the region around the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi/Impenetrable Forest National Park.

Missing
  • establish an office for the new Mgahinga Gorilla Nation al Park in Kisoro, in cooperation with Uganda National Parks and the Institute of Tropical Forest Conservation. Information of Uganda National Parks, Bwindi/Impenetrable Forest National Park and the Institute of Tropical Forest Conservation can be provided here. Most of the expenses for furnishings and equipment, including signposts, information-boards, blackboards etc., were taken over by the German animal Protection Society through the project. The Office was established for Uganda National Parks under the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities.
  • provide accommodation for the Chief Park Warden in cooperation with Uganda National Parks and the Institute of Tropical Forest Conservation, prepare the background (finances, management, organisation etc.) to establish a campsite and restcamp at Lake Mutanda with the aim to have a first offer for visitors and tourists to stay. The proposed campsite is situated in the middle between Mgahinga Gorilla Nationa1 Park and Bwindi/Impenetrable Forest National Park, so that tourists and visitors are able to reach both Nationa1 Parks. , The proposa1 to the loca1 authorities to hand over the management-responsibility of a peninsula to Uganda National Parks most likely will be accepted soon. The campsite wil1 be established and constructed in cooperation with the Institute of Tropical Forest Conservation and Uganda Nationa1 Parks. In the Proposa1 it is considered, how the loca1 communities can benefit and employment can be given to the people around the lake,
  • minimize the negative impact on wildlife and environment within the Nationa1 Park in cooperation with the local authorities. In 1991, 429 anima1 traps were confiscated, compared with a number of 1622 traps in 1990. More than 2000# indigenous trees were planted within the encroached part of the National Park.
  • equip all employed Park Wardens, park Ranges and persons, for example with a second uniform, pullovers and other useful things for the work,
  • support the Rangers in a small field-stations within the Park,
  • support botanic and archaeological research,
  • mobilize further support for the new National Park from Organisations and Institutions. More equipment for the new National Park is ready to be brought from Germany,
  • to bring a second vehicle, mainly for research and construction purposes of the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park Project.
  • to continue the education program of the Project. A wildlife act was produced in cooperation with the Wi1dlife Clubs at Kisoro (Mutolere Secondary School). More than 400 teachers, students, pupi1s and others had the opportunity to see a video-tape with the local actors.
Obstacles

Due to the current security problem within the National Park, in spite of the ongoing civil war in Rwanda, it was not possible, to continue with other plans to develop, manage and organize the National Park (see below). Fighting has been going on along the border to Rwanda and within the conservation area. Unfortunately a Park Ranger lost his leg in August 1991, when a sudden explosion occurred, while he was trying to follow a gorilla group. This Park Ranger will be taken to Mulago Hospital in Kampa1a, so that he will get an artificial leg. All transport and accommodation expenses were covered by the project.

Picture, page 28: The crater swamp on the top of Mt. Gahinga with its unique alpine vegetation belongs to the habitat of the mountain gorillas

Due to the unsolved political problems in Rwanda it was not possible to get access to the government owned main Ranger Camp, which was constructed by the project in 1990 at Mt. Sabynio. Access to this camp would be needed, to enable Uganda National Parks and the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park Project, to continue with any work and plans inside the core area of the National Park.

However, it was possible to ensure, that most likely no wild animals, including the endangered mountain gorillas were killed, injured or poached with the exception of one buffalo, which was poached by local people at Mt. Muhavura. In January 1992 at least three gorilla groups were present in MGAHINGA GORILLA NATIONAL PARK. The survival of the wildlife within MGAHINGA GORILLA NATIONAL PARK is essential and a key-stone for the future development of the National Park and the whole Region.

Planned Activities During Next Reporting Period

During the next reporting period the project is planning to focus on the establishment and construction of the camp-site at Lake Mutanda and to continue all those works, which are not interrupted by the ongoing civil war in Rwanda. Hopefully the current security-problem in the region can be solved soon for the benefit of the nation and the people of Uganda.

In correspondence with the District Administration of Kisoro it was proposed to establish a boundary committee on the local authority leve1 in order to ensure the new boundary of the National Park core-area and to prevent further encroachment within the gorilla conservation area.

As soon as the security-situation allows it is planned:

  • to open the MGAHINGA GORILLA NATIONAL PARK officially,
  • to assist in the demarcation of the new park-boundary and to install 16 signs along this boundary line,
  • to establish a new national park headquarters,
  • to recruit and train more Park Rangers,
  • to assist in replanting the encroached area,
  • to continue with the tourism program, to start and control the tourism-activities in close cooperation with the Ugandan authorities,
  • to establish a small camp-site outside the National Park not far from the gate,
  • to establish further park-infrastructure (trails, pit-latrines, etc.),
  • to assist the Ugandan authorities to control the encroached part of the National Park,
  • to remove the camp of the so called Mountain Gorilla Rescue Project to the buffer-zone,
  • to shift the ranger camp to the site of the planned National-Park-Station (Headquarters of MGAHINGA GORILLA NATIONAL PARK).

All activities will be carried out in close cooperation with the MINISTRY OF TOURISM, WILDLFE AND ANTIQUITIES, UGANDA NATIONAL PARKS and the LOCAL AUTHORITIES. More tasks may occur during the work within the National Park. Information about the needs and tasks will be provided to the Ugandan authorities. .

Klaus J. Sucker