The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has initiated the translocation of approximately 200 Uganda Kobs from Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve in Kikuube to Ajai Wildlife Reserve in Madi Okollo district. The translocation, which commenced on Friday afternoon, is part of habitat manipulation efforts in preparation for the reintroduction of White rhinos at Ajai Wildlife Reserve in 2025.
Fred Kiiza, the chief warden in Murchison Falls National Park, explained that the translocation exercise is scheduled to continue this week, with additional batches of Kobs being relocated. He emphasized that besides preparing the habitat for white rhinos, the exercise aims to diversify wildlife species at Ajai Wildlife Reserve to enhance tourism in the Madi Okollo district and the entire West Nile region.
Joanne Aniku Okia, the Madi Okollo district Woman MP, commended the government and the Uganda Wildlife Authority for fulfilling their promise to replenish the once-abandoned Ajai Wildlife Reserve with wildlife species ahead of the anticipated return of the white rhinos.
Scovia Acan, the female councilor for Pawor sub-county, highlighted the longstanding demand from the people of Madi Okollo district and the wider West Nile sub-region for restocking Ajai Wildlife Reserve to bolster the development of the tourism sector in the area.
The purpose of this move is to create space for the influx of new rhinos. Furthermore, while the Kabwoya reserve is overrun with kobs, the Ajai reserve is being repopulated. By increasing travel opportunities to the West Nile region—which hasn’t yet developed a distinctive identity in the tourism landscape—the project would strengthen local economies and raise environmental consciousness. One of the Uganda Wildlife Authority’s (UWA) long-term goals is to develop a wildlife reserve in the region as a tourism destination. Wildlife rangers who closely monitored the animal movements at Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve executed the relocation with extreme care and attention to detail.
The rangers used a fleet of six vehicles, sophisticated trapping methods, and a mass capture strategy to safely secure the buffalos and kobs.
Before the animals are transported to their new home, a wildlife veterinarian does a thorough study to detect any potential illnesses, ensuring the animals’ health and safety. Following their capture, the animals are sampled to determine whether they are infected.
In November 2023, UWA announced a roadmap indicating that the reintroduction of White Rhinos to their original habitat at Ajai Wildlife Reserve would take place in 2025. Covering an area of 166 square kilometers, Ajai Wildlife Reserve is renowned for its unique flora and fauna and was previously home to Southern White Rhinos in Uganda.
The Ajai game reserve, home to Savannah grasslands, forests, woodlands, swamps, and mountains, is located in the Arua area of northern Uganda, on the western bank of the majestic White Nile.
The primary purpose of the Ajai Game Reserve was to safeguard white rhinos, which are now extinct in the nation as a result of widespread poaching. In 1937, an important chief privately protected the reserve, and in 1965, I had more than 50 rhinos before the reserve became extinct.
The local chieftain known as Ajai, who used to guard the reserve, is honored in the name of Ajai Game Reserve. The Ugandan government is currently working with the Rhino Fund to return white rhinos to the reserve.
The reserve is 148 square kilometers in size. Despite being one of the less popular tourist destinations in Uganda, there is a lot to see there that will make your safari unforgettable.
In addition to the well-known large population of rhinos that inhabit the reserve, other animals that can be observed there include oribis, warthogs, Lewel Hartebeests, Ugandan kob, lions, leopards, Sitatunga antelopes, zebras, duikers, and numerous primates, including the vervet monkey, Olive baboon, black Colobus monkeys, and white Colobus monkeys, as well as reptiles like pythons.
Due to its tropical environment, the Ajai Game Reserve receives high rainfall most of the year. Visitors can decide to combine tour of Ajai game reserve with the Murchison Falls National park to have a great and unforgettable Uganda safari experience.
