Census confirms 426 chimpanzees in Bwindi in Uganda | News
The 2025 Bwindi Chimpanzee Census has confirmed the presence of an estimated 426 chimpanzees widely distributed across the country. Bwindi Impenetrable National ParkThis marks what officials describe as a major milestone in strengthening evidence-based conservation in one of Africa’s most important protected landscapes.
The results were officially launched today at the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) headquarters in Kampala by the Minister of State for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Martin Mugarra Bahinduka.
Speaking at the launch, Bahinduka emphasized the importance of science-led conservation in protecting Uganda’s biodiversity. He said the confirmation of a substantial and widespread chimpanzee population strengthens the park’s understanding as a critical habitat for great apes. He added that it reinforces the need to manage protected areas using sound scientific data, especially in light of climate change, pressure on habitats and growing demand for land and resources.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site internationally recognized for its mountain gorillas, Bwindi has long been seen as a global model for great ape conservation. While the park is globally associated with gorilla conservation, this first dedicated and systematic chimpanzee census significantly increases the scientific understanding of Bwindi’s great ape community. It also formally integrates chimpanzees into the park’s conservation planning, alongside gorillas.
The census was conducted between May and June 2025. It was led by the Jane Goodall Institute Uganda in collaboration with the Uganda Wildlife Authority and the Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration (GVTC). The exercise was conducted alongside the park’s sixth mountain gorilla census, allowing researchers to collect comprehensive data on multiple flagship species within the same conservation landscape.
Using standardized line transect survey methods, including the Standing Crop Nest Count and Marked Nest Count approaches, researchers surveyed 320.9 square kilometers in all four park sectors of Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo and Rushaga. The effort provided the first robust, site-specific baseline data on the size, density, and distribution of the park’s chimpanzee population.
Findings confirm that chimpanzees are widely distributed across Bwindi, occupying habitats ranging from mixed Afromontane forest to higher mountain ecosystems. Under conservative modeling assumptions, the census estimated an average density of 1.33 chimpanzees per square kilometer. This challenges previous assumptions that the species was rare or restricted to marginal parts of the park.
Researchers also recorded minimal signs of human disturbance during the surveys, indicating that the habitat remains largely intact and effectively protected. Sightings of other large mammals, including mountain gorillas and forest elephants, as well as additional primate species and vegetation features, were documented. Officials say this broader data set provides valuable context for integrated multi-species conservation planning.
Commenting on the findings, Dr. James Musinguzi, executive director of the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), said the census provides a strong scientific basis for future conservation decision-making. He noted that for the first time there is clear scientific evidence confirming a substantial and widespread chimpanzee population within Bwindi. He said this strengthens the authority’s ability to plan, protect and manage the park using evidence-based approaches, while ensuring that chimpanzees receive conservation attention alongside other great apes.
The Executive Director of the Jane Goodall Institute Uganda, Mr James Byamukama, said the census addresses long-standing knowledge gaps about chimpanzees in Bwindi. He explained that the evidence confirms that chimpanzees are not a marginal presence, but an integral part of the park’s ecosystem. He added that the baseline data will guide conservation planning, protected area management and regional biodiversity strategies, while supporting Uganda’s international conservation commitments.
Conservationists say the census also plays a crucial role in operationalizing Uganda’s National Chimpanzee Conservation Strategy for the period 2023/24 to 2032/33. By providing site-specific and scientifically robust population data, the count strengthens monitoring of population trends and habitat integrity in National Parks of Uganda. It also helps guide targeted law enforcement and align conservation investments with priority chimpanzee landscapes.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, located in southwestern Uganda, remains one of the most biologically diverse forests in Africa. The dense vegetation and mountainous terrain have historically made wildlife monitoring a challenge. The successful completion of a systematic census of chimpanzees in such terrain is therefore seen as a major technical and logistical achievement.
Officials say the results will not only inform management within Bwindi, but also contribute to broader regional conservation efforts across the greater Virunga landscape, where ecosystems and wildlife populations transcend national boundaries.
As Uganda continues to position itself as a leader in great ape conservation, authorities believe that scientific research such as the 2025 Bwindi Chimpanzee Census will be essential to balance biodiversity protection with sustainable development and tourism growth.
With 426 chimpanzees now confirmed and widely distributed throughout the park, conservationists say Bwindi’s role as a stronghold for great apes has been further strengthened, offering renewed optimism for the long-term protection of one of Africa’s most iconic forest ecosystems.
