Ugandan kob female and calf, Semliki Wildlife Reserve
The wildlife of Uganda is composed of its flora and fauna. Uganda has a wide variety of different habitats, including mountains, hills, tropical rainforest, woodland, freshwater lakes, swamps and sanna with scattered clumps of trees. The country has a biodiverse flora and fauna reflecting this range of habitats and is known for its primates, including gorillas and chimpanzees. There are ten national parks and thirteen wildlife reserves; some 345 species of mammal and 1020 species of bird he been recorded in the country.
Geography[edit] Main article: Geography of Uganda Topography of Uganda The flower spike of Lobelia telekii can grow up to 3 metres (10 ft) tallUganda is a large country in East Africa lying on the equator. It is bounded by the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, South Sudan to the north, Kenya to the east and Rwanda and Tanzania to the south. Three large lakes, Lake Victoria, Lake Edward and Lake Albert lie on the borders and Lake Kyoga lies in the centre. The country forms part of the Lake Victoria Basin and consists mainly of a plateau about 1,000 m (3,300 ft) above sea level. Higher land in the southwest rises to the Rwenzori Mountains on the border with Rwanda, while on the eastern border are a chain of mountains, the highest point being the shield volcano of Mount Elgon (4,321 m (14,177 ft)). The Imatong Mountains lie on the northern border with South Sudan.[1]
Nearly one-fifth of the country is open water or swampland. Lake Victoria is drained by the River Nile which flows through the even shallower Lake Kyoga, part of a complex of periodically flooded lakes and swampland, Lake Opeta forming a separate lake during the dry season. Lake Albert and Lake Edward are deep water lakes lying in the Albertine branch of the Rift Valley.[2]
Conservation[edit] Main article: Conservation in UgandaUganda has ten national parks and thirteen wildlife reserves and sanctuaries, and in these areas, the protection of nature takes precedence over human development. When they were set up, many of these protected areas were selected examples of habitat types in the country, but with the increase in the human population, and the requirement of these people for land for agriculture, timber extraction, mining and other purposes, the preserved areas he often become the only remaining natural habitats. Overfishing, hunting, disease and climate change may be responsible for some species suffering declines or becoming extinct, so the preserved areas he a vital role to play in the preservation of the country's biodiversity.[3]
Biodiversity[edit]Uganda is a landlocked country covering an area of 236,000 km2 of which 82% is dry land, 14% is open water and 4% is a permanent swamp. The country is among those endowed with the greatest diversity of animal and plant species and ranks among the top ten most bio-diverse countries in the world.[4]
Flora[edit]About 4,500 species of vascular plants he been recorded in Uganda.[3]
The Imatong Mountains he a rich biodiverse flora with much endemism; 1145 species of vascular plant he been recorded here including 110 species of fern. The plains and the lower parts of the mountains are covered by deciduous woodland, wooded grassland and bamboo thickets, while the areas to the east and southeast are in the rain shadow of the mountains, with dry subdesert grassland or deciduous or semi-evergreen bush.[5] The plant diversity of the mountains is due to their position between the West African rain forest, the Ethiopian plateau and the East African mountains, coupled with their relative isolation for long periods during which new species could emerge. Vegetation in the lower areas includes woodlands of Albizia and Terminalia, and mixed Khaya lowland semi-evergreen forest up to 1,000 metres (3,300 ft). Above 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) there is montane forest with Podocarpus, Croton, Macaranga and Albizia up to 2,900 metres (9,500 ft). At the highest levels, the forest is replaced by Hagenia woodland, Erica (heather) thicket and areas of bamboo.[6]
A Nubian giraffe in Murchision Falls National ParkIn the northwest of the country, in the Murchison Falls National Park, 80% of the tree cover has been lost over several decades and the remaining woodland is dominated by Terminalia schimperiana and Prosopis africana, the balance being created by herbivores, which suppress regeneration, and fires which four fire-tolerant species.[7] In the Semliki National Park in the west of the country, the vegetation is predominantly medium altitude moist evergreen to semi-deciduous forest with Cynometra alexandri being the dominant species of tree.[8]
In the east, Mount Elgon has several vegetation zones. At middle elevations there is montane forest with Olea hochstetteri and Aningeria adolfi-friederici, which give way to Afrocarpus gracilior and olive forest at higher elevations. Higher still, there is a zone of Afrocarpus and the bamboo Yushania alpina, and the summit moorland has tussock grasses, heaths, low herbs, giant lobelias and groundsels.[9][10]
Fauna[edit] Main articles: List of mammals of Uganda and List of birds of Uganda Mother and juvenile chimpanzees eating Ficus fruit in Kibale National Park Mountain gorillaWith its wide range of habitat types, Uganda is regarded as a hotspot for biodiversity. Some 345 species of mammals he been recorded in the country, along with 1,020 species of bird (around half of the total number found in Africa), 142 species of reptile, 86 species of amphibian, 501 species of fish and 1,242 species of butterfly.[3][11]
Nearly half of the mountain gorillas in the world live in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and it is also a sanctuary for colobus monkeys and chimpanzees, and birds such as hornbills and turacos.[12] In the Queen Elizabeth National Park there are 95 species of mammal, including African buffalo, Ugandan kob, hippopotamus, African bush elephant, African leopard, lion, and chimpanzee. The area around Ishasha in Rukungiri District is famous for its tree-climbing lions, whose males sport black manes.[13]
In Kibale National Park there are 13 species of primates. These include several habituated communities of common chimpanzee, as well as several species of Central African monkey including the Uganda mangabey, the Ugandan red colobus and the L'Hoest's monkey. Other primates that are found in the park include the black-and-white colobus and the blue monkey.[14] The park's population of elephants trels between the park and Queen Elizabeth National Park. Other terrestrial mammals that are found within Kibale National Park include red and blue duikers, bushbucks, sitatungas, bushpigs, giant forest hogs, common warthogs, and African buffalo. The carnivores that are present include leopards, African golden cats, servals, different mongooses and two species of otter. In addition, lions visit the park on occasion.[14] Birdlife is also plentiful, and includes the olive long-tailed cuckoo, the western tinkerbird, two species of pittas (African and green-breasted) and the grey parrot.[14]
References[edit] ^ Philip's (1994). Atlas of the World. Reed International. p. 106. ISBN 0-540-05831-9. ^ "Uganda Geography". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 19 June 2019. ^ a b c "Biodiversity Conservation – the importance of Uganda". Wildlife Biodiversity. Wildlife Conservation Society. Retrieved 19 June 2019. ^ "Uganda". BIOFIN. Retrieved 19 April 2022. ^ Friis, Ib; Vollesen, Kaj (1998). Flora of the Sudan-Uganda Border Area East of the Nile. Kgl. Danske Videnskabernes Selskab. ISBN 978-87-7304-297-7. ^ "Imatong Mountains". Data Zone. BirdLife International. Retrieved 20 June 2019. ^ van der Maesen, Xander; van Medenbach de Rooy, J.M. (2012). The Biodiversity of African Plants: Proceedings XIVth AETFAT Congress 22–27 August 1994, Wageningen, The Netherlands. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 338. ISBN 978-94-009-0285-5. ^ Chege, Florence (July–August 2002). "Kibale and Semuliki Conservation and Development Project" (PDF). IUCN. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help) ^ "Mount Elgon National Park". Uganda Wildlife Authority. Archived from the original on 24 December 2007. Retrieved 20 June 2019. ^ "Mount Elgon National Park". Data Zone. BirdLife International. Retrieved 20 June 2019. ^ Unit, Biosafety. "Main Details". www.cbd.int. Retrieved 19 April 2022. ^ Blomley, Tom (2003). "Natural resource conflict management: the case of Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks, southwestern Uganda" (PDF). In Peter A. Castro, Erik Nielsen (ed.). Natural resource conflict management case studies: an analysis of power, participation and protected areas. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. p. 243.[dead link] ^ "The tree climbing lions of Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda". Queen Elizabeth National Park Uganda. 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2019. ^ a b c Lilieholm, R. J.; et al. (1997). "Research opportunities at the Makerere University Biological Field Station, Uganda". Ecological Society of America. 78 (1): 80–84. Sayandip Ghosh, ed. (2005). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed). Johns Hopkins University Press. Retrieved 3 August 2009. "Animal Diversity Web". University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. 1995–2006. Retrieved 22 May 2007. Lepage, Denis. "Checklist of birds of Uganda". Bird Checklists of the World. Avibase. Retrieved 27 April 2007. Clements, James F. (2000). Birds of the World: a Checklist. Cornell University Press. p. 880. ISBN 0-934797-16-1. vteUganda articlesHistory Early (pre-1894) Egyptian rule British rule (1894–1962) Early independence (1962–1971) Idi Amin (1971–1979) Uganda–Tanzania War Third Republic Uganda since 1986 Geography Cities and towns Conservation Lakes Mountains Protected areas Rivers Wildlife Politics Administrative divisions Constitution Corruption Elections Foreign relations Government President Prime Minister Cabinet Human rights Intersex LGBT rights Military Law enforcement Political parties Rebel groups Flag Economy Agriculture Banking Central bank Conservation Energy Fisheries Forestry Poverty Shilling (currency) Stock exchange Telecommunications Tourism Trade unions Transport Society Abortion Climate change Demographics Domestic violence Education Health Human trafficking Languages Polygamy Prostitution Religion Squatting Terrorism Water supply and sanitation Women Youth Culture Cinema Cuisine Gomesi (dress) Kanzu (robe) Media Music Public holidays Sport OutlineIndex Category Portal vteWildlife of Africa Sovereign states Algeria Angola Benin Botswana Burkina Faso Burundi Cameroon Cape Verde Central African Republic Chad Comoros Democratic Republic of the Congo Republic of the Congo Djibouti Egypt Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Eswatini Ethiopia Gabon The Gambia Ghana Guinea Guinea-Bissau Ivory Coast Kenya Lesotho Liberia Libya Madagascar Malawi Mali Mauritania Mauritius Morocco Mozambique Namibia Niger Nigeria Rwanda São Tomé and Príncipe Senegal Seychelles Sierra Leone Somalia South Africa South Sudan Sudan Tanzania Togo Tunisia Uganda Zambia Zimbabwe States with limitedrecognition Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic Somaliland Dependencies andother territories Canary Islands / Ceuta / Melilla (Spain) Madeira (Portugal) Mayotte / Réunion (France) Saint Helena / Ascension Island / Tristan da Cunha (United Kingdom) Western Sahara