| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | Parks. |
| East Africa as a whole is one of the most | | | | Probably the most viewable primate within the forest |
| well-recognized safari destination for tourists looking | | | | strata is the black and white colobus, colobus |
| to see a variety of wildlife that is rare and exotic. | | | | guereza. These beautiful primates live in most of the |
| What most tourists don’t realize however is | | | | Ugandan forest, as well as river woodland. They dwell |
| what sets Uganda apart from other destinations such | | | | entirely in the trees, and are L,heost’s |
| as Tanzania and Kenya. | | | | monkey is rarely visible because it usually dwells in |
| Thanks to its climate, Uganda has a colossal amount | | | | dense secondary forest and undergrowth. It has a |
| of rich and dense forest making it a perfect home to | | | | black face and backward-facing white whiskers and |
| species that are absent from other parts of East | | | | usually carries its tail upright. If one is lucky, they can |
| Africa. Yet unlike similar forests in other parts of | | | | catch a L,hoest’s monkey in kibale forest, |
| Africa, Uganda’s forests are easily accessible | | | | Bwindi or Maramagambo forest with in Queen |
| for viewing forest wildlife, especially primates! | | | | Elizabeth national park. |
| Primates evolved Africa approximately 60 million | | | | A large number of primates that live in |
| years ago. The first primates were shrew-like animals | | | | Uganda’s forest are never seen by tourists |
| that resemble the pottos and bush babies of Uganda | | | | because they sleep during the day and are only |
| Today. These more primitive primates are known as | | | | active at night. These include the bush baby (galago) |
| prosimians and were the first primates to exist in | | | | of which there five different species in Uganda- and |
| Africa. Monkeys did not evolve until 10 million years | | | | the potto (Perodicticus Potto). Both species are |
| later at around 50 million years while apes were not | | | | norcturnal, although the shrill cry of the bushaby is |
| found in Africa until 20 million years ago. One of the | | | | distinctive sound easily distinguished by their black |
| first known apes, proconsul, was discovered on | | | | bodies and long white tufted tails and shaggy white |
| Rusinga Island in Lake Victoria. Apes are easy to | | | | sides. They live in small groups and eat only leaves. |
| distinguish from monkeys by their Lack of a trail. | | | | Their diet is so specialized; their stomachs have |
| Primate-inhabited forests are under threat in Uganda, | | | | different compartments to help them digest their |
| as they appear to be in other parts of the world | | | | leaves that they eat. |
| because of the increasing number of people all | | | | The black and white colobus aren’t the only |
| struggling to find placing to live. The number of | | | | colobus in the forest, either. The red colobus, |
| species living in tropical forest is much higher than | | | | piliocolobus badius, which live in large groups and are |
| elsewhere, and a proportionately large number of | | | | highly sociable, are only found in areas surrounding |
| species are finding it harder to survive. Monkeys and | | | | Kibale National Park. They have tufted red crowns |
| ape of the forests are among the worst affected, | | | | and are often hunted by chimpanzees as food. |
| with nearly one in four monkey species worldwide | | | | The blue monkey (Ceropithecus mitis) is the most |
| being very close to extinction. Forests have delicate | | | | widely dispersed forest guenon in East Africa. It is |
| ecosystems and many and many primate species | | | | common in most Ugandan forest guenon in East |
| have evolved a specialized lifestyle, causing them to | | | | Africa. It is common in most Ugandan forests except |
| react poorly to sudden changes in their environments | | | | for Murchison falls and L. Mburo National and often |
| such as loss of habitat and human encroachment. | | | | lives in Union with other forest monkeys. Blue |
| Uganda is home to over 300 mammals, primates | | | | monkeys are not, in fact, blue but dark grey with |
| being exceptionally well represented among them. | | | | white throat and chest, as well as tufted grey hair on |
| With around 20 species of primates, both | | | | their foreheads. In the forest, the males make a |
| day-dwelling (diurnal) and night-dwelling (nocturnal), | | | | distinctive pyow sound as a territorial marker |
| the variety and bounty of Uganda’s primate | | | | that can be heard from a far distance. |
| population is unparalleled. The best Uganda primates | | | | The red-tailed monkey, Cercopithecus ascinius, is also |
| are the great apes. Most rare is the mountain gorilla, | | | | a forest guenon but its red. The red-tailed monkey is |
| Gorilla Beringei, which inhabits Bwindi Impenetrable | | | | also brownish with white whiskers and has a heart |
| National park and Mgahinga National Park in | | | | shaped white patch on its nose. Red tailed monkeys |
| Southwestern Uganda. Mountain gorillas, one of three | | | | are often found in Kibale forest, Semliki, Queen |
| gorilla subspecies, are some of the most endangered | | | | Elizabeth and Bwindi National Park, as well as Budongo |
| animals today —with an estimated total | | | | Forest and Mpanga Forest. |
| population of 750, mountain gorillas are living on the | | | | Two other forest guenons are more infrequently |
| brink of extinction. | | | | seen- Debrazza’s monkey and (Cercopithecus |
| Thousand of visitors travel to Bwindi every year to | | | | Neglectus)L,Hooest’s monkey(Cercopithecus |
| see the majestic mountain gorilla, helping the | | | | lheost). De Brazza’s monkey is thickset and |
| communities of Bwindi every year to see the largest | | | | shorter than the other guenons, with a white band |
| of all the primate species, with adult sometimes | | | | across its brows and white moustache and beard. De |
| weighing over 200 kilos. | | | | brazza’s is primarily a West. African Species, |
| Only slightly smaller is the chimpanzee, Pan | | | | but can be found near Mt. Elgon and Semliki National |
| Troglodytes, which inhabit most of the western | | | | Parks. |
| forest of Uganda and can be seen at Kibaale National | | | | L’Hoest’s monkey is rarely visible |
| Park, Kaniyo Pabidi forest site near Murchison falls | | | | because it usually dwells in dense secondary forest |
| National Park, as well as Ngamba Island Chimpanzee | | | | and undergrowth. It has a black face and |
| sanctuary in Lake Victoria. Chimpanzees are | | | | backward-facing white whiskers and usually carries its |
| extensively studied in the wild and in captivity and | | | | tail upright. If one is lucky, they can catch a |
| have been found to be closer to humans than any | | | | L’Hoest’s monkey in kibaale Forest, |
| other creature as they share over 98% of our DNA. | | | | Bwindi or Mamagambo Forest within Queen Elizabeth |
| Unlike Gorilla, who eat mostly leaves; chimpanzees | | | | National park. |
| eat primarily fruit but have been witnessed hunting | | | | A large number of primate that live in |
| and killing the colobus monkey for food. | | | | Uganda’s forests are never seen by tourists |
| What is less well-known is that Uganda is also full of | | | | because they sleep during the day and are only |
| monkeys. There are five different types, or | | | | active at night. These include the bushbaby(Galago)- |
| genera, which include the colobus, the | | | | of which there are five different species in Uganda |
| guenons, the baboons, the Patas and the Mangbeys. | | | | — and the Potto (Perodicticus Potto). Both |
| Some of these monkeys are as widespread and | | | | species are nocturnal, although the shrill cry of the |
| easily seen as a domestic animal in others parts of | | | | Bush baby is distinctive sound of the African night. |
| the world. The vervet monkey, Cercopithecus | | | | Both Primates are more closely related to the more |
| aethiops, a light gray guenon, is thought to be to be | | | | primitive prosimians, like the lemurs of Madagascar. At |
| the most numerous monkey species in the world and | | | | Kibaale forest, there are guided night walks on which |
| can be found every where in Uganda except the | | | | one can see these nocturnal primates. |
| forest. Highly intelligent vervets have specialized calling | | | | As one can clearly see, Uganda is rich with primates. |
| systems distinguishing them between aerial and Land | | | | Each primate species has its own quirks, behaviors |
| predators. | | | | and each species can provide a primatologist with a |
| Patas monkeys, or Erthrocebus patas, look quite | | | | lifetime’s worth of study and research |
| similar to vervets and also are terrestrial primates. | | | | material. The scientists that contribute to the |
| The patas has a redish-brown coat, unlike the vervet | | | | international primatological society each understand |
| grey coat, and is restricted to the month of Uganda, | | | | how vital their role is- better understanding of each |
| in kidepo and Murchison falls National parks. Baboons, | | | | primate species will enable them to spread awareness |
| or Papio anubis, are heavy and terrestrial primates, | | | | and help ensure that primate’s survival. The |
| and are easily recognized because of their size and | | | | responsibility, however, doesn’t lie with the |
| their long, canine snout. Like the vervet, baboons are | | | | Scientist alone. |
| highly adaptable and have become the most | | | | Wildlife parks and forest reserves have been created |
| widespread primate in Africa. They too live in large, | | | | to enable their animal inhabitants to survive and thrive |
| social groups and you will often see them feeding | | | | while also serving to educate the public — |
| and grooming on the road side. The Olive baboon, | | | | tourist and local communities alike —about the |
| the only type found in Uganda, can be found in all of | | | | wonder each species has to offer. |
| the National parks except for the three mountainous | | | | |