Uganda’s Operation Twiga III Kicks Off

September 16, 2018 - 3 minutes read

As part of Operation Twiga III, the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has authorized the relocation of 15 giraffe from Murchison Falls National Park to the less-visited but golden plains of Kidepo Valley National Park.

The effort is part of an ongoing program to boost giraffe breeding and foster a balanced ecosystem, as well as enhance sustainable conservation in Kidepo Valley, Murchison Falls and Lake Mburo national parks.

Although Uganda has the largest population of the Rothschilds giraffe living in the wild, the actual number is still distressingly low and they are designated endangered.

As part of the first operation in 2015, the UWA moved 15 Rothschilds from Murchison Falls to Lake Mburo, a relocation that resulted in one of those giraffes (“Morse”) giving birth in 2018.

In 2017, another 19 giraffe were ferried across the River Nile from the northern to the southern bank in Murchison Falls National Park in the second operation to disperse the population more widely.

The relocation process is led by the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) and involves capturing the animals and temporarily placing them in protective bomas (corrals), followed by transport by road to lesser-populated areas. The operation takes several weeks to complete.

Adventure Consults is proud to be to be part of the GCF campaign in Uganda and appreciates the support from international, regional and local partners in protecting Uganda’s giraffe.

Seeing giraffe in Uganda as part of your short or long trip is amazing! If future generations are to enjoy the same, the world at large needs to jointly monitor and protect the few surviving wild giraffe populations in Africa.

Did You Know?

  • Giraffe are the tallest land animals on planet Earth, with the adults topping off at about 18 feet tall.
  • Unlike most herbivores in the African bush, giraffe do not feed on grass; they browse for leaves and twigs from high in the trees, and in huge quantities (around 99 lbs per day).
  • Mother giraffe give birth while standing. After about 30 minutes, the calf (giraffe baby) will already be running around, following its mom and family.
  • “Twiga” means giraffe in Swahili.

Where to see giraffe in Uganda:

Get in touch with Adventure Consults for tailor-made wildlife adventures to suit your personal interests.

Tags: , , , , ,