Giraffes to be introduced in Lake Mburo National Park.
The fresh ideas at Uganda Wildlife Authority of moving animals from one area would help Mburo National Park. Public relations of Uganda Wildlife Authority Mr. Jossy Muhangi said that this year a starting project of twelve giraffes would be moved from Murchison Falls National Park to lake Mburo National Park. Like Queen Elizabeth National Park and Murchison Falls National Park, this is aimed to increase domestic and international tourism as well as make lake Mburo a popular national park.
Because of the presence of impalas that cannot be found in any other Ugandan National Parks as well as Zebras and the addition of giraffes to this small national park, the number of visitors both domestic and international is expected to increase and most likely the number of days spent in lake Mburo National Park by individual tourists will also increase since the park will be more appealing than it has been before.
Remembering that the establishment of Lake Mburo National Park was a forceful one whereby the government forcefully gazatted communal land into a national park, the local community who used to benefit from grazing their animals in this area never loved the idea something that resulted in the poisoning and killing of all lions in the park.
Where this project will work of fail remains a question to be answered by you and me. Consultations with the surrounding people were so undertaken and subsequently decided that portion of the National Park property might be used for grazing.
Uganda Wildlife Authority considered adding a pride of lions to draw more visitors to Lake Mburo National Park last year, however people who visit the National Park said they have never had any opportunity to see them on any game drive.
Though they hide and are rather timid, you may hear roaring at night. Though time will tell if they will embrace the new environment, this appears like a failed attempt. There will be questions over the survival of these giraffes as Lake Mburo National Park has a limited area for such species and we still have to see how the nearby population will respond.
The closest to Kampala city is Lake Mburo National Park; if such ideas prove successful, then we should expect many visitors to this national park with justification stating that there is less to see and that the park serves as a stop over to break the long drives to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park gorillas will long be gone.
Through park admission fees, boat cruises, walking safaris, and more bed nights for National Park lodges like Mihingo, Mpono, Lake Mburo Safari Lodge, Arcadia cottages, Rwonyo camp among other lodges, more visitors imply more income. National parks will also be competitive as, while originally each national park has been highly special and unlike others, if this idea is overlooked we are likely to see more national parks neglected.
