Reintroducing white Rhinos in Ajai Wildlife Reserve by UWA.
As we were busy in Christmas holiday, UWA was busy doing the best to improve on Uganda safari. It announced plans of reintroducing White Rhinos to Ajai Wildlife Reserve in Madi Okollo district. In 2020, UWA had a feasibility study that confirmed Ajai Wildlife Reserve as one of the best Rhino habitats in Uganda.
“The reintroduction is part of the biodiversity enhancement program for Uganda, which seeks to among others promote tourism in the West Nile region.” John Makombo, the Director in Charge of Conservation at Uganda Wildlife Authority said.
In addition to John Makombo’s speech, he said that they will not only introduce white rhinos but also other species like zebras, giraffes and many more.
A long-standing demand by the people of West Nile to re-introduce rhinos again has come to pass at Ajai Wildlife Reserve due to the prominence of Rhinos to the people in the sub-region. Rhino camp in Arua city was named after white Rhinos since it is a home to hundreds of refugees, and the defiant white Rhino hotel.
How did people react about UWA re-introducing white rhinos again in Ajai Wildlife Reserve?
“The reintroduction of the White rhinos will greatly boost the tourism potential of the district and the entire West Nile sub region.” the Upper Madi Member of Parliament Isaac Etaku explains.
The Lower Madi County Member of Parliament Ronald Afidra said that since West Nile region has been neglected for a long time, the return of the White rhinos will ensure equity of tourism in the country and in the area.
“The re-introduction of White rhinos is long overdue owing to the strong cultural attachments the people have for the Rhinos.” the area Woman member of parliament, Joanne Aniku, says. He continued saying that re-introducing the rhinos will equally enhance the understanding of rhino conservation in the West Nile community, especially in Madi Okollo district.
Why did white rhinos extinct?
- Rhino tourism at Ajai Wildlife Reserve in the West Nile sub-region was a popular activity during the 1970s however between 1970s and 1980s were extinct due to insecurity. Despite the fact that Ajai Wildlife Reserve was protected, 1970s and 80s were wars of Amin and Obote 2 which caused the loss of rhinos where they were reserved.
- Poaching was also one of the challenges that affected cause white rhinos to extinct. Despite the fact that the wildlife reserve was surrounded by local communities, people used to hunt them for food well as others killing them for destroying their lives and properties thus the loss of white rhinos.
The Government through Uganda Wildlife Authority has been running breeding programs at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary in Nakasongola District to multiply the original stock of 6 Southern White Rhinos that were left since 2006.
Thanks goes to UWA for work done since then the population census for rhinos have increased to 35 individuals in ziwa Rhino sanctuary and currently, the place is highly visited on a Uganda safari.
