Back from the brink

Abstract

In the 1960's three well ordered national parks, Queen Elizabeth, Murchison and Kidepo, existed in Uganda. They enjoyed firm political support, a sound economic basis, and an ecological problem of too many elephants. The 1971 Idi Amin coup led to the fall of tourism and a ruined economy accompanied by a deterioration of law and order. High government officials and security officers sponsored elephant and rhino poaching in national parks. The 1980/81 aerial survey showed that both species declined markedly and that poaching was still in progress. However, efforts by the local conservationists with support from outside bodies especially UNDP and EEC salvaged the situation. The 1982 count proved that the recovery of elephant population is likely if security continues to be guaranteed.