Kampala - THE population of chimpanzees in Queen Elizabeth National Park is declining as a result of hunting by the surrounding communities, an official has said.

The park's veterinary officer, Dr. Margaret Diicille, said they are searching for some residents of Bunyaruguru county in Bushenyi district, who reportedly killed a family of chimpanzees.

She said they fled after being found in possession of a young chimpanzee suspected to belong to the family that had gone missing from the forest near Katerera in Bunyaruguru.

Diicille said tourists had expressed disappointment about the declining numbers of chimpanzees.

The park authorities would sensitise the community on the importance of wild animals, she said.

The chief park warden, Tom Obong Okello, said they suspect that the locals eat the animals or use them for witchcraft.

He said they initially thought that the missing chimpanzees had crossed to Virunga National Park but they later discovered that they were killed.

Okello warned the residents against eating the animals, saying they risked contracting diseases.

Facts on Chimpanzees

There are two species of chimpanzees, the common and the pygmy chimpanzee

The Congo river forms the boundary between the species

A male chimpanzee weighs between 30-75kgs, while a female weighs 26-50kgs

Chimpanzees rarely live beyond the age of 40 in the wild but may reach 60 in captivity.

http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/18/597811