Cheetah’s Return to Kidepo Valley National Park

According to the area’s conservation manager, John Masereka, more cheetahs have been sighted in Kidepo Valley National Park. Cheetahs belong to the cut family more like the Leopard and are among the rarest animals in Africa. In Uganda, cheetahs were nearing extinction till of late that they were sighted at Kidepo. While on a Uganda Safari, the only place where cheetahs can be seen is the Karamoja sub-region.

Cheetahs’ return has given hope to Uganda’s tourism sector with a projected increase in the number of tourists. Most of Uganda’s visitors enjoy game viewing in the various national parks of the country. This is because of the diverse collection of various wild animals that the country has. However, some mammals like the cheetah have been uneasy to see while on a game drive and this greatly affected the industry. It was of late that these rare mammals (Cheetahs) were seen in Kidepo Valley National Park. Currently the park is estimates to have about 20 cheetahs, which are fairly large, a number that can easily be encountered on a game drive. Now visitors to the park can experience a bright moment seeing the big cats. The number of cheetahs in Uganda is still small but growing at a fairly high rate.

Also categorized as the most endangered species, Cheetahs are among the key tourist attractions of Uganda. Their beauty and magnificent look entice poachers who hunt them for their skin. The rapid poaching of cheetahs in the whole world led to the listing of cheetahs under the Appendix 1 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered species of wild flora and fauna (CITES).

According to Masereka, there is need to protect Cheetahs in Uganda by the government. Strategic conservation plans aimed at protecting all mammals are required if the country is to improve game viewing. The conservation efforts in national parks like Kidepo Valley National Park will help to secure the park and the neighboring landscapes for wildlife to thrive.

With the return of cheetahs at Kidepo, frequent sighting is expected to boost the popularity as a true part of the remaining wilderness globally.

Kidepo Valley National Park is located in north eastern Uganda, sharing a border with South Sudan and Kenya, and it covers an area of 1,440 square Kilometers. This park was gazette after Uganda’s independence, about 50 years ago.

A 4-year conservation program that is expected to invest more in wildlife conservation within and outside Kidepo Valley National Park has been setup. This program is boosted by Africa Wildlife Foundation and its being supported by USAID.

Apart from the cheetahs, there are other mammals at Kidepo Valley National Park that a visitor can enjoy while on a game drive. These include; greater and lesser kudu, lion, eland, leopard, black-backed jackals, spotted hyena, side-striped jackals, zebra, elephant, warthogs, Rothschild giraffes, bushbuck, Cape buffalo and many more. Birds include; Verreaux’s Eagles, Pygmy Falcon, and Egyptian Vulture. However, there have been no comprehensive survey of birds at the park and therefore, visitors can watch more birds that are no listed above.