UWA Relocates Four Endangered Nubian Giraffes to Ajai Wildlife Reserve

The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has begun relocating four Nubian giraffes from Murchison Falls Conservation Area to Ajai Wildlife Reserve in a fresh effort to expand the endangered species’ habitat, restore ecosystems and strengthen tourism in the West Nile region.

The translocation is part of UWA’s long-term conservation programme aimed at safeguarding the Nubian giraffe, with Uganda currently hosting the world’s largest remaining wild population of the species.

The operation is being led by UWA Assistant Commissioner for Veterinary Services, Dr. Patrick Atimnedi, who said the relocation follows internationally recognised conservation standards established by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

According to Dr. Atimnedi, the guidelines require detailed scientific assessments before any wildlife translocation is carried out, including habitat suitability studies, disease risk evaluations, consultations with stakeholders and plans for continuous monitoring after the animals are released.

“The translocation follows internationally accepted conservation guidelines that ensure the animals are moved into a habitat capable of sustaining a healthy population over the long term,” he said.

Ajai Wildlife Reserve was selected after ecological studies confirmed that it offers favourable conditions for giraffes, particularly its extensive acacia woodlands, which provide an ideal food source. Conservation experts also believe the return of giraffes will help restore the reserve’s natural ecological balance by controlling vegetation growth and re-establishing wildlife that once thrived there.

The latest relocation adds to a series of successful giraffe conservation programmes undertaken by UWA over the past decade.

In 2015, the authority carried out Uganda’s first giraffe translocation by moving 15 Nubian giraffes, comprising four males and 11 females, from Murchison Falls Conservation Area to Lake Mburo National Park. Since then, similar exercises have been completed in Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve on two occasions, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre (UWEC).

The current exercise is being implemented under UWA’s Giraffe Conservation Strategy with technical support from the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, which has provided specialised training to UWA personnel, including advanced wildlife translocation skills acquired in Namibia.

Beyond protecting the species, UWA expects the return of giraffes to Ajai Wildlife Reserve to increase the area’s tourism appeal by attracting more visitors and strengthening the West Nile tourism circuit.

The authority says increased tourist arrivals are expected to create more economic opportunities for surrounding communities through tourism-related businesses and employment.

UWA also notes that distributing giraffe populations across several protected areas reduces the risks associated with keeping the animals in a single ecosystem, helping to protect them from disease outbreaks, habitat loss and other environmental threats.

Officials say the translocation reflects Uganda’s continued commitment to science-driven wildlife conservation, ecosystem restoration and sustainable tourism development while securing the future of one of Africa’s most recognisable wildlife species.