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