Learn about the human–chimpanzee conflicts in Western Uganda and how the Bulindi Chimpanzee & Community Project is working to mitigate these conflicts and protect the wild chimpanzee population.
Human-chimpanzee conflict is a significant problem in Western Uganda, where wild chimpanzees survive in shrinking fragments of forest on agricultural land. The Bulindi Chimpanzee & Community Project is working to mitigate these conflicts and protect the wild chimpanzee population.
The project implements a multifaceted approach to address human–chimpanzee conflict, which includes:
Forest enrichment planting: This aims to replenish the forest with natural foods for chimpanzees to reduce future human–chimpanzee conflict (by reducing crop ‘raiding’ by the apes).
Supporting local households: By providing education sponsorship for schoolchildren, supporting small household projects, and providing energy-saving stoves and seedlings for woodlots, the project helps local households to reduce pressure on the forest and the likelihood of human–chimpanzee conflict.
Monitoring chimpanzees: Daily monitoring of the chimpanzees by the project team allows them to understand how they adjust to living around people in a fast-changing landscape and plan conservation strategies accordingly.
Education programmes: The project also runs conservation education programmes for local schools and communities. This helps to raise awareness about the importance of protecting chimpanzees and their habitats and the impact of human actions on chimpanzees.
Overall, the Bulindi Chimpanzee & Community Project is making a real difference in the fight against human–chimpanzee conflict. By working with local communities and implementing conservation strategies, the project is helping to mitigate human–chimpanzee conflict and protect the wild chimpanzee population.
