Last Surviving Population of Elands
Lake Mburo national park covers an area of 370square km and is the closet park to Kampala city. Regardless of its size, it is a home to eland species that are facing extinction in Uganda, Precambrian metamorphic rocks that existed 500 million years ago, 350 bird species including African fin foot and 13 lakes that form part of the 50km long wetland system of which five lie within park boarder. This park lodges the last surviving common eland in Uganda which is a majestic spiral-horned antelope. Eland is a social antelope forming open herds of 25 to 60 animals both males and females, and occasionally congregating in groups of over 1,000, particularly during the rainy season.
Male elands stand at 1.8 meters tall at the shoulder, with females being only around 20 cm shorter. The average weight of adult males varies between 400 to 1000 kg and adult females weigh between 300-600 kg. Their tail is between 50 and 90 cm long.
Indicated on 2000 IUCN red list of threatened species, the eland remains the world’s largest and slowest antelope native to more than 15 African countries. The eland can live up to 25 years in captivity and between 15 to 20 years in wilderness. These breathtaking and magnificent creatures distance themselves from forests and swamps and go for open plains for easy browsing of grass since they are herbivorous. The cow-like eland may not succeed in small domesticated ranges.
Being the closest savannah park to Kampala and centered on fringed lakes known for their rich bird species, Lake Mburo national park also harbors dense populations of warthog, buffalo, oribi, Defassa waterbuck, reedbuck, Leopard and hyena while crocodiles and over 300 hippos are found in the lake. Lions have recently been sighted again in park regardless of the allegations that they had faced extinction.
Elands have experienced population decline due to subsistence poaching and hunting. Their rich milk, tasty meat, and useful hides have made elands hunting targets. Human and livestock expansion to make ranches destroyed eland habitats in Lake Mburo national park. As human populations are growing and expanding settlements and agriculture, they are encroaching on elands’ living spaces and destroying habitats and food sources.
Critical to protecting wildlife are the local people. Sharing the land, often alongside each other, can lead to struggles for resources and deforestation. If people and wildlife learn to live together inside and outside of protected areas, the future for all will thrive. Working directly and implementing community projects that benefit both the locals and wildlife in Lake Mburo national park can conserve the remaining bunch of common elands in Uganda.
This is one of the heaven sent opportunities to travel with Africa adventure safaris, knowing that the interface with these giant treasures is inevitable. Navigate the park to teem with the world’s largest antelope before setting off to the misty mountains to stare deep into the eyes of mountain gorillas.