JGI UGANDA FIELD PROGRAMMES

Snare Removal Programmes

Photo Credit - T. Furuichi

Poaching as a threat to Chimpanzee Survival

The impact of commercial hunting on forest mammals is yet to be fully determined, but current information indicates that most hunting of primates is unsustainable. While hunting of primates, particularly chimpanzees, is not common in Uganda, hunting of other forest mammals, such as duikers and bush pigs is. This hunting has an indirect impact on chimpanzees and other primates as most of the hunting in Uganda is done by setting snares or jaw traps. Most of these snares are made from wire. As chimpanzees walk through the forest, their hands or feet may become trapped in the snare. In two of the forests where chimpanzees are studied (Kibale and Budongo), researchers have observed up to 25% of chimpanzees with snare-related injuries. Currently the effects of these injuries on the survivorship of individuals, particularly females are being studied. Occasionally the death of individual chimpanzees has been attributed to either wire snares, or mantraps. There has been at least two known reported deaths from mantraps, both of chimpanzees in the Kasokwa Forest Reserve near Budongo. From Kibale Forest, researchers recorded the death of a young adult female and her orphaned brother due to snare injuries. She was unable to climb or gather food. In Kalinzu Forest Reserve, Japanese researchers state that 50% of the chimpanzees in their field study in Kalinzu forest have snare related injuries. In 2004, one chimpanzee was found dead in the forest, apparently killed by spears. The hands and head were removed. This is an indication that locals may be using chimpanzees for witchcraft as well.

C. Hashimoto
Chimpanzee found with head decapitated in Kalinzu Forest. This chimp was killed for witchcraft.

Photo Credit - Debby Cox

We have been supporting snare removal teams in three major forest blocks, Budongo, Kibale and Kalinzu Forests. We would like to expand this to include all the forest blocks in Uganda where chimpanzees are found. Each forest block costs approximately US$6000 per year to protect against illegal poaching. This includes salaries of field assistants and equipment.

We have also been undertaking efforts to remove fresh snares from chimps that are habituated or easily located.So far in the past 2 years we have successfully removed three snares and one mantrap.

Photo Credit -
Chimp caught in a man trap - Successfully darted and released after treatment