Baseline fauna inventory Mount Kadam and Moroto

November 2022 – SunBird Hill Biodiversity Research Team conducted a baseline fauna inventory during a 7-day survey. The survey focused on the so-called Karamoja Conservation Zones of Mount Moroto and Mount Kadam – Pian Upe.

The Assessment was done by a team of experts from SunBird Hill. The purpose of this assessment was to ascertain the biodiversity in the landscapes to inform project implementation.

The research team highlighted species of particular conservation concern. In addition, bird species that would draw nature enthusiasts to the region that would not be found in south or west Uganda were noted.

Maps of study sites and routes walked during the survey in Karamoja.

Background

Karamoja Conservation Zones

Kara-Tunga Foundation (KTF) created Karamoja Conservation Zones initiative to help conserve areas around Mount Mororo and Mount Kadam. KTF requested Sunbird Hill team to produce a baseline inventory of the fauna to realise what is being conserved and, with regular monitoring, to reveal biodiversity richness trends over time. Monitoring certain indicator species over time will also determine the health of the ecosystem.

Sunbird Hill

Sunbird Hill host national and international experts who exchange knowledge in a diversity of taxa including ornithology, mammalogy, herpetology, entomology and botany. The Sunbird Hill Team consists of experienced, passionate, dedicated Ugandan conservationists and natural historians. Trained in identification and monitoring techniques, they collect and feed data into the National Bio Data Bank. 

Research findings

In Mount Moroto Conservation Zone we recorded 144 bird, 33 butterfly, 9 mammal, 5 reptile, and 2 amphibian species. In Mount Kadam – Pain Upe Conservation Zone we recorded 128 bird, 40 butterfly, 13 mammal, 5 reptile, and 0 amphibian species.

Conservation concern

With 3 species identified as Globally Threatened and a further 12 species classed as Nationally Threatened the Karamoja Conservation Zones must receive a high level of attention to ensure the species and their habitats are restored and protected. 

Globally critically endangered

Of particular conservation concern is the White-backed Vulture, Gyps africanus, listed as Globally Critically Endangered. It has become locally extinct in parts of its range with rapid population decline in others.

• White-backed Vulture, Gyps africanus – Globally Critically Endangered
• Martial Eagle, Polemaetus bellicosus – Globally Endangered
• Grey Crowned Crane, Balearica regulorum – Globally Endangered
• Common Warthog, Phacochoerus africanus – Population in global decline

Nationally threatened in Uganda

Species that are Nationally Threatened in Uganda include:

• Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus)
• Hemprich’s Hornbill (Lophoceros hemprichii)
• Woolly-neck Stork (Ciconia episcopus)
• Red-billed Oxpecker (Buphagus erythrorhynchus)
• Common Eland (Taurotragus oryx)
• Little Sailer (Neptis puella)
• Bohor Reedbuck (Redunca redunca)
• Klipspringer (Oreotragus oreotragus)
• Hyena (disambiguation)
• Five-lined Skink (Trachylepis quinquetaeniata)
• Speke’s Sand Lizard (Heliobolus spekii)
• Centipede Eaters (Aparallactus sp.)
• One of the frogs recorded, Tomopternas sp. is potentially a first record for Uganda.
• Speke’s Sand Lizard, Heliobolus spekii, has been recorded in only one other place in Uganda.
• Our inventory highlights a range extension for Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher, Terpsiphone rufiventer.

Restricted range

We highlight at least 37 bird species that have restricted range within Uganda that would draw bird enthusiasts to the area. As an emerging branch of nature tourism, our preliminary butterfly species inventory reveals the potential to add butterfly tourism to the Karamoja region.