Wildlife Population increases at Queen Elizabeth National Park.

By Bizwan Kirunda

14^th July 2021

Queen Elizabeth National Park is recording a boom in its wildlife population according to the authorities.

In the 2018 wildlife census, UWA registered 3,953 elephants in Queen Elizabeth national park up from 2,913 elephants in 2015. Today, this number has grown to over 4,000 elephants while buffalos whose figures stood at 1,500 before March are now above 1,700. The park also has more than 90 mammals and 600 bird species.

This increase has been attributed to the crackdown on poachers and community sensitization on wildlife protection, and the value of wildlife, according to Pontius Ezuma, the Chief Warden of the Queen Elizabeth conservation area.

He adds that the improved surveillance technology and staffing has also improved wildlife security.

Ezuma adds that the extension of electric fencing across the park has also eliminated human-wildlife conflicts and saved animals from being attacked by community members.

So far 19.5 kilometers on Rubirizi and 23.3 kilometers on Kasese sides have been fenced.