Kibale National Park

Infobox protected_area | name = Kibale National Park
iucn_category = II


caption = The Ugandan Red Colobus is one of 13 primate species found in Kibale.
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location = Uganda
nearest_city = Fort Portal
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area = 776 sq. miles
established = 1993
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governing_body = Ugandan Wildlife Authority

Kibale National Park is a national park in western Uganda protecting moist evergreen rainforest. The park was created in 1993 to protect a large area of forest previously managed as a logged Forest Reserve (gazetted in 1932). The park adjoins with Queen Elizabeth National Park and is an important eco-tourism and safari destination, popular for its population of habituated chimpanzees and 12 other species of primate. It is also the location of a biological field station managed by Makerere University.

Biodiversity

The predominant ecosystem in Kibale is moist evergreen and semi-deciduous forest. Much of the forest was logged during its time as a Forest Reserve, and some exotic species trees were planted in plantations (pines and eucalyptus). Since the national park was gazetted these introduced trees have been removed and logging has ended.

The mammal fauna of Kibale is dominated by primates, 13 species of which live in the forest. The park protects a well studied habituated population of Common Chimpanzee, as well as several species of Central African monkey including the Uganda Mangabey, the Ugandan Red Colobus and the L'Hoest's Monkey. The park's population of elephants travels between the park and Queen Elizabeth National Park, and other large animals that live in the park include leopards, bushpigs, three species of duiker and two species of otter. Bird life is also prolific, particularly noisy hornbills, two species of pittas (African and Green-breasted) and African Grey Parrots.