World Rhino Day 22nd September 2016- Uganda.

World Rhino Day, 22^nd October 2016.  Rhinos in Uganda
It’s better to learn from the past and to put the future into reality, especially when you celebrate life of a Rhino. The world Rhino Day is on 22 September 2016 to celebrate all five species of Rhinoceros which include the Black and northern white rhinos left in Africa and the greater one horned, Sumatran and Javan rhinos living in Asia. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the main driver of Rhino poaching is the increase in demand of its horn by Vietnam and China as the leading markets. As a result Rhino population declined during at the end of the 20^th century especially the black rhino which has been classified as critically endangered. Few Rhinos are left in the wild while other are in captive breeding outside protected areas. Thanks to conservation efforts by the IUCN’s African Rhino specialist group, Save the Rhino international and the WWF, Rhino population is on the rise once again especially in south Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.   Uganda is privileged to have brought back the southern white rhinos through the Rhino Fund Uganda; a non-governmental organization with the major aim of re-introducing rhinos back into Uganda’s protected areas on the basis of breed and release back to the wild program.You take the frontline when there is danger; today Ugandan conservationist organizations such as the Rhino Fund Uganda in collaboration with the Uganda Wildlife Authority led to the establishment of the privately owned Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. This was intended to restore Uganda’s wildlife heritage as well as educate the public about the conservation of Rhinos in partnership with the Uganda Wildlife education centre where two white Rhinos live in captivity.
 As Uganda joins the rest of the world to celebrate the world rhino day, we cannot forget the lost glory when the black and white rhinos became extinct from Uganda’s national parks in the 1980’s. The Rhino fund Uganda and their partners legally tasked to instill desire for conservation among Ugandans are working to create community outreach programs to educate people about the call for Rhino and conservation of other wildlife.  Local communities around Ziwa Rhino sanctuary have been assisted to improve their livelihoods through building of schools and support students, health care centers and water supply systems for cattle keepers. This has dramatically bridged the gap between the impacts of tourism and conservation on local community development. Tourists on the Ugandan wildlife safari have an opportunity to spot the white Rhinos at the Ziwa Rhino sanctuary, covering about 7000 hectares of savanna woodlands which is located along the Kampala -Gulu high way in Nakasongora district. The sanctuary is under 24 hour security by armed rangers to ensure safety of Rhinos and also enforce wildlife laws. Ziwa Rhino sanctuary, a home to 15 southern white Rhinos can be reached in two hours from Kampala on your way to Murchison falls National Park. You will track wild Rhinos on foot and also encounter other mammals and reptiles such as hippos, antelopes, monkeys and crocodiles. Other activities to enjoy include bird watching, nature walks and canoeing with a supporting cast of budget accommodation facilities including camping tents and guest houses. Uganda remains among the top countries with unspoiled wilderness tourist attractions such as rare mountain gorillas, 10 % of world’s bird species, River Nile the world’s longest river, the snow capped Mt. Rwenzori and Lake Victoria the largest fresh water lake in Africa. Most tourists who come into Africa come for good weather, wildlife safaris, cultural tours, Mountaineering, Primate tracking which includes chimpanzee tracking, golden monkey tracking, gorilla tracking of which Uganda Africa’s friendliest nation has a combination of all these.Written by Tumwesiga EllyTour Consultant Africa Tours Adventure etumwesiga@gmail.com+256 784810295/ +256 704593408