More Cheetahs return to Kidepo Valley National Park

According to John Masereka,the conservation Manager,more cheetahs have been seen at Kidepo Valley National Park in Uganda.Of recent,there were more fear that these rare wild animals were nearing extinction.This poised a threat to both wildlife safaris and Primate Safaris in Uganda.Cheetahs can only be found in Karamoja sub-region in Kidepo Valley National in the whole of Uganda.This increase in the number of cheetahs at the park has has given hope to wildlife conservation.Currently the number of Cheetahs in Uganda is estimated to be 20 and all these are found in Kidepo Valley National Park.John Masereka said that it has become common to encounter cheetahs while on a game drive at the park.Last month,tourists encountered more than 6 cheetahs.This has led to a bright moment for visitors intending to see the big cats at Kidepo.

 Cheetahs are part of the cat family and are among the key attractions that tourists on a Uganda Safari come to see.However,these mammals are among the endangered species and this made them to appear in the list under Appendix 1 of the Convention on International Trade in the Endangered Species of wild Flora and fauna (CITES). Therefore,there is need to protect both the Cheetahs and their habitats by the government to ensure that they are not depleted in the country.The conservation Manager said that there are conservation plans setup to protect areas such as Kidepo Valley National Park.This will hep to secure Kidepo and the nearby landscapes such as animal corridors for wildlife to thrive.

Rwetsiba Aggrey,Uganda Wildlife Authority's senior monitoring officer said that cheetah population is still small but fast growing.Frequent sighting of the cheetahs at the park is expected to boost the popularity of Kidepo as a true part of the remaining wilderness globally.Kidepo Valley National Park covers an area of 1,440 sq km and it sits in the northeast of Uganda sharing a border with South Sudan and Kenya.

The ongoing conservation programme at Kidepo has been boosted by the Africa Wildlife Foundation,which is being supported by USAID, to implement a 4-year programme that is expected to invest more in wildlife conservation within and outside Kidepo.