A team from Help African Animals visited the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre (UWEC) commonly known as the Entebbe Zoo. The purpose of the visit was to acquire more knowledge about wildlife and appreciate the living conditions of the animals living in captivity in Uganda.
UWEC was opened in 1952 by the colonial government in Uganda as a reception centre for wild animals that were found as casualties. UWEC among others, rescues and treats injured or sick animals, provides quarantine services in order to prevent infectious disease transfer, and breeds species that are at risk of extinction in the wild.
Four men have been arrested in connection with the death of the six lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park. These are Ampurire Brain aged 26 years, Tumuhire Vincent aged 49 years, Aliyo Robert aged 40 years and Miliango Davi aged 68 years.
According to the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), the four were arrested last night at Kyenyabutongo village, Rusoroza parish, Kihihi sub-county, Kanungu district during a joint operation mounted by UWA, Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), and police.
Upon arrest, the suspects led the security team to a location where three (3) heads of lions were found hidden in a tree while the fourth one had been buried with fifteen (15) legs of lions under the same tree. Three bottles containing a chemical commonly known as Furadan and a two little jerry can of lion fat oil were recovered in a banana plantation. Two spears, one pang, and one hunting net were found hidden in a garden at the home of one of the suspects.
The carcasses of the six lions were discovered at Ishasha sector on the evening of Friday, March 19th, 2021 upon which discovery investigations were commenced.
Help African Animals applauds UWA and all security agencies that participated in the investigations that led to the arrest of the suspects. Whereas we are well aware that the lives of the lost lions cannot be brought back, we believe that if the culprits are strongly punished, other offenders will be deterred from committing similar offenses hence leading to better protection of the lions and all other wildlife.
Uganda mourns the death of six lions at Queen Elizabeth National Park. According to the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), the carcasses of the lions were found at Ishasha sector on the evening of March 19th, 2021 with most of their body parts missing. Eight dead vultures were also found at the scene which points to possible poisoning of the lions by unknown people. However, given the fact that some body parts of the lions were missing, UWA does not rule out illegal wildlife trafficking.
An investigation has been commenced with conservationists working with the local police to get to the root of the cause of the death of the lions.
Help African Animals condemns the illegal killing of wildlife because it impacts negatively on tourism in Uganda and threatens the survival of all species in the wild.
There have been a number of previous incidents where lions at Queen Elizabeth National Park were believed to have been poisoned. These include an incident in 2010 when five lions died and a similar incident in 2018 which led to the death of eleven lions including eight cubs.
Today we join the rest of the world to celebrate Women’s Day. On this special day we celebrate all women around the world that have chosen to challenge all systems that have not only oppressed, exploited and left women marginalized but also all those systems that have led to animal abuse and exploitation. Let’s continue speaking out for animals.
In today’s national celebrations of World Wildlife Day in Uganda, our very own Gladys Kamasanyu was given an award for her outstanding contribution to wildlife conservation in Uganda. Gladys is the founder of Help African Animals and a magistrate at the Uganda Wildlife Court, the only specialized wildlife court in Africa. She was involved in the establishment of the court. Gladys has fearlessly adjudicated over many wildlife cases involving illicit wildlife products like elephant ivory, pangolin scales, live pangolins, hippopotamus teeth and others, forestry, and fish cases. We are grateful that the government of Uganda recognizes Gladys’ contribution in the fight against wildlife crime.
We join the rest of the world to commemorate World Wildlife Day. This year’s theme emphasizes the central role of forests. It calls for the promotion of the livelihoods of communities living adjacent to forests while conserving the forests. Let us protect the forests for us and for the animals that call them home.
Uganda mourns death of Nandi, a 22 year old rhino. Nandi died of unknown natural causes on 28th February 2021 at the rhino sanctuary at Nakasongola. She has been referred to as the “mother of rhinos” at the sanctuary. Nandi was received at the sanctuary in 2006 from Disney Animal Kingdom. She gave birth to the first rhino at the sanctuary called Obama in 2009. Nandi has been ill for some time. In January 2021, she gave birth to a female calf called Achiru. Nandi was unfortunately, not able to feed her daughter due to illness. The calf was handed over to the Uganda Wildlife Education Center for proper care. The calf sadly died ten(10) days later. The two deaths are a big blow to the Uganda Rhino Fund and the entire country. The death reduces the total number of rhinos at the sanctuary to 33 individuals. Rest In Peace Nandi.
