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Bulindi Chimpanzees
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MEET NEWTON

5/13/2018

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This is Newton -- an adult male in his prime and probable leader of the Wagaisa chimpanzee community.

​This beleagured community of about 35 chimps range 15 kilometers to the west of Bulindi. They're under unimaginable pressure. The lush riverine forests within their range have been cut down almost entirely and replaced with farmland and exotic eucalyptus plantations. Their rivers flow like tar having been polluted by a distilling factory. There is scarcely any natural forest remaining, and yet these hardy chimpanzees somehow cling to survival, adapting as best they can to this dynamic human-dominated landscape. Unsurprisingly, the chimpanzees rely heavily on agricultural crops which puts them in competition with local people.

We started monitoring the Wagaisa chimps last year and we're still finding out about them. In parallel, we began small projects to help the local human communities including sustainable woodlots, energy stoves and coffee farming. There's a long way to go and many challenges to overcome, but we're committed to helping Newton and his family survive while at the same time increasing local people's capacity to coexist with their chimpanzee neighbours.

Click here to support our project.

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NEWTON seated in an exotic eucalyptus tree. Plantations of eucalyptus, which are ecomonically profitable for local landowners, have replaced most of the natural forest in the home range of the Wagaisa chimpanzees (Photo by Matt McLennan)
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NEWTON seated in a farmer's garden in March 2018 (Photo by Matt McLennan)
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MONITORING CHIMPANZEES FOR CONSERVATION

5/6/2018

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In Uganda’s Hoima District, 300 chimpanzees (including the Bulindi community) cling to survival in the face of enormous pressure from their human neighbours. Monitoring these chimpanzees is essential for their health and survival.
As well as our long-term monitoring of the Bulindi chimpanzee community, this year we started monitoring two other chimp communities in Hoima and we aim to begin monitoring a fourth community later this year.

As volunteer Field Operations Manager, Georgia says: “Chimpanzee monitoring isn't easy! It requires basic tracking knowledge, a good understanding of chimpanzee behaviour, and a lot of patience. Our chimpanzee monitors are in constant contact with local villagers and often have to act as ambassadors for the chimpanzees as well. At BCCP we believe in strengthening the skills and abilities of field staff through capacity building. Our tiered training program not only provides junior staff with the necessary tools to perform in a complex social and ecological landscape, it also encourages senior monitors to develop strong leadership skills.”

These images show Vincent (who monitors the Wagaisa chimpanzee community) mentoring our newest chimpanzee monitor, Isaac.
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Senior chimp monitor Vincent (left) mentoring new monitor Isaac (center). On the right is researcher Benjamin Hintz, who is studying the Wagaisa chimpanzee community assisted by Vincent (Photo by Georgia Lorenti)
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Mzee, an elderly male chimpanzee of the Wagaisa chimpanzee community. The Wagaisa chimpanzees range about 15 kilometers to the west of Bulindi (Photo by Matt McLennan)
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Chimpanzee Monitor Vincent training new team member Isaac on data collection techniques (Photo by Georgia Lorenti)
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MAN LIKE MOSES

3/18/2018

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Chimpanzees are long-lived animals and mature slowly. One of the joys of following their lives over many years is watching youngsters grow up.
We first identified Moses (pictured) in 2012 when he was still a juvenile. Six years later, he's developed into a handsome young adult, albeit still with some growing up to do.

The Bulindi Chimpanzee & Community Project strives to help villagers coexist with chimpanzees where people and chimps share landscapes outside of protected areas. We hope we'll be able to see many other young chimps grow into adulthood in the years to come.
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Juvenile Moses in October 2012.
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Moses in March 2018.
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NEW FACES, NEW CHALLENGES

12/2/2017

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In Uganda's Hoima District, ten or more groups of wild chimps cling narrowly to survival in disappearing habitat around villages (the total population is around 300 individuals). The Bulindi chimpanzees are just one of these groups.

This year we began working in three new areas to help conserve more of Hoima's imperilled chimpanzees. One of the groups in desperate circumstances are the Wagaisa chimps, whom we're just starting to get to know. These unfortunate chimps are under unimaginable pressure: virtually all their natural forest was cut down, logged for timber and converted to farmland. Their range is criss-crossed with ever-busier roads and local rivers and swamps are polluted by a 'gin' distillery which operates without regard to its environmental impact. The Wagaisa chimps seek cover in exotic eucalyptus plantations that will too be cut for fuelwood for the factory. Turning this dire situation around presents an enormous challenge, but we're determined to find solutions to help these poor chimps.

Huge thanks to Nancy Merrick and all the team at Friends of Chimps for helping us raise funds to expand the project this year.


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Juvenile male.
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Sub-adult female.
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Adult male.
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