Mizano Black Back Killers Fined $20

In June 2011, Mizano the only black back in Habiyanja family of mountain gorillas was speared to death by three poachers who had encroached into Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. The three poachers Amos Kazongo, Fideli Begumisa and Ronald Byamugisha were immediately arrested after the incident and their traps confiscated by authorities. Gorilla safari

This month the three poachers were tried and found guilty by a court in Kanungu District where the the crime took place. However due to what conservationists have called an ignorance by the judicial system about the importance of mountain gorillas to Uganda' s economy, the judge surprising fined each of the poachers only Shs. 50,000 which is approximately just under $20. The court ruling like the crime has sparked anger among conservationists.

The spokesperson of the Uganda Wildlife Authority - UWA noted that the judge was not aware of the importance and the danger of extinction faced by the mountain gorillas. With only about 790 mountain gorillas found in the World they have been listed as critical endangered.

Mountain gorilla safari packages can be done in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park as well as in Mgahinga mountain gorilla national park. Gorilla safari in Rwanda can only be done in Parc Des Volcanoes which is the most accessible national park for gorilla trekking among the three Countries in which gorillas can be found.

If you are interested in mountain gorilla trekking visit www.gorillatrekkinguganda.com

Uganda Tour Companies Trained in Bird Watching

Uganda which is the size of the British Isle has a very large number bird species some of which are endemic to the Country like the fox weaver bird. Uganda has over 1,047 bird species in all and offers great birding safari opportunities for the avid birder. Lack of proper marketing of the sector coupled with a few quality Uganda birding guides has limited the development of bird watching in Uganda. In comparison the United States sees over 80 million bird watchers annually compared to Uganda which more bird species.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority has however recognized the importance of birding and has now started putting emphasis on training birding guides as well as many young people and Uganda tour Company operators.

According to Mr. Masaba Steven the Acting Director of Uganda Wildlife Authority who is in charge of Tourism Uganda – The Pearl of Africa has the largest population of birds in the whole of the continent.

Of all the bird species found in Africa 50% can be found in Uganda and 10% of the bird species in the whole World.

About 50 birding guides were passed out at the Kibale forest national park which has the Makerere University Biological field station in Fort Portal.

Uganda’a bird watching potential if properly marketed can help generate lots of income which would rival chimpanzee tracking and gorilla tracking which are the leading tour attractions in Uganda. It would also help create employment and boost the Country’s economy.

There are efforts underway to help create bird trails as well as map out bird watching sites in many of the protected areas to help boost the sector.

Gorilla Naming Ceremony

The success of gorilla conservation in Uganda and Rwanda has led to increased revenue from mountain gorilla safari to both these countries. In Rwanda this success led to the initiation of a ceremony; in 2005, the Rwanda office of Tourism and National parks officially launched a ceremony; "Kwita Izina", a baby gorilla naming event equivalent to the cultural ceremonies the people use when naming their new born babies. That is how important the then head of the body charged with protecting wildlife especially the conservation of mountain gorillas viewed the birth of these endangered species. It was officially inaugurated by His Excellence Paul Kagame the president of the Republic of Rwanda when two baby gorillas born to the same mother were Christened in a grand ceremony making the birth of the first gorillas born in the wild since the conservation efforts began.

Since then many dignitaries, including Hollywood stars, ambassadors, renown people from well known television channels like Discovery and Animal Planet have since graced these wonderful event. During the events many people from within Rwanda and the international community gather in a what the ORTPN; Rwanda Office of Tourism and National parks terms as a celebration of the conservation efforts and community development success. The event is marked with great cultural performances such as the graceful Kinyarwanda dance with priests and the press in great numers.

Conservation has led to the growth of tourism in Rwanda enabling gorilla tracking, wildlife protection and increased revenue. This is also true for Uganda unlike the Democratic Republic of Congo which is still have political issues in the eastern region where the mountain gorillas found around its border with Uganda and Rwanda.

However in Uganda, the conservation efforts are being set back with the increasing need of land for cultivation to support the increasing population and the allocation of wetlands and protected areas to investors.

For your gorilla safari to Uganda and Rwanda there are number of tour operators that can arrange for you to track these gentle, majestic giants that number less than 800 in the wild. The money from these gorilla tours enable the respective governments ensure the protection of these endangered species of primates and also the development of the communities around the protected areas in these regions.

For more information on Rwanda gorilla naming ceremony

Your can visit some of these sites for :

• 3 day gorilla safari
• Uganda gorilla tour
  
• Rwanda gorilla trekking
• Uganda gorilla tour
• gorilla tours Africa

For accommodation options in East Africa.

1. Uganda safari lodges
2. Kenya hotels
3. Tanzania hotels
   

African Grey Parrots Smugglers Arrested: Uganda Birding

Uganda has one of the highest numbers of bird species in the World given its position geographically. It lies astride the equator with both tropical and savannah vegetations. Bird watching in Uganda however is not such a highly promoted sector of tourism. The local Uganda tour operators are trying to change this however.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority last month impounded another 142 African grey parrots just a week after another 132 parrots were recovered from suspected smugglers at Mpondwe a border post in the district of Kasese. The birds were found in such poor shape and condition that they had to be taken for rehabilitation at the former Zoo now known as the Uganda Wildlife Educational Center – UWEC as they care out investigations to have the culprits arrested. The Wildlife body is trying to ascertain whether the suspects have the right documents which allows them to have the birds in their possession. wildlife tours

The Uganda Wildlife Authority chief executive Dr. Andrew Sseguya said these second number of birds was found along Entebbe road at Kawuku. It is not clear whether it is the same group of smugglers that are involved.

Smugglers From Democratic Republic of Congo
In January over 132 endemic African grey parrots from the Democratic Republic of Congo were seized as woman tried to smuggle them into Uganda through the Mpondwe border post which is point through which most the smugglers of wildlife to Europe and Asian lucrative markets pass from the DRC. Wildlife safari

The birds had been fed sugarcane which was spiked with alcohol according the Uganda Wildlife Authority officials so as to make them drowsy during the border crossing. The woman was found to be possessing a fake license and permit to transport the birds as the immigration officials at the Uganda – DR Congo border post stopped him. Rwanda gorilla safari

In 2010, 9 rare African grey parrots found in possession of a Libyan delegate at the International Airport Entebbe.

For your Uganda birding tours as well as African birding safaris destinations such as Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania