Hoima, Uganda -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/05/2010 -- The executive director for Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Trust (CSWCT)- a Chimpanzee rescue body, Ms Lilly Ajarova has urged residents of the local communities neighbouring the wildlife parks and forest reserves in the areas of Kyabigambire, Muteme, Mparangasi, Budongo and Bugoma in Hoima District to appreciate Chimpanzees as their own resources.

“We want the people to appreciate chimpanzees as their own resources and stay harmoniously without conflict because they are of benefit to the community in one way or another.” Ajarova said.

Ms Ajarova adds they have tried to create linkages between human and natural environmental management through a series of educational programmes and development initiatives for locals in theses areas to appreciate nature conservation. There were series of human-chimpanzee conflicts in the forest patches of these sites resulting from chimpanzees destroying farmers’ crops. This also haunts the Uganda Tourism sector when such potential is destroyed.

“Wildlife is crucial to forest’s ecosystems for dispersing seeds and fruit, creating gaps in the canopy that allow seedlings to grow, and serving as predator and prey,” Ms Ajarova says, adding, “They play an important role in the biodiversity we should try hard to protect and are an appealing flagship species in our efforts to uphold environmental preservation”.

To ensure that this vice doesn’t re-occur, the body has set up an educational centre in Kyabagambire locality to enlighten the local communities, especially targeting the children and youth about the importance of co-existing with chimpanzees. The Uganda Wildlife Authority has also teamed up and it’s repatriating 10 per cent of the money from their collections from the Chimpanzee tourists in the areas.

CSWCT is a body taking care of Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary established to care for chimpanzees rescued from within Uganda, in addition to providing a safe home and ensuring their welfare.