The Ajai Wildlife Reserve is a small conservation protected area in North Western Uganda dominated by a large island surrounded by seasonally flooded swamps and wooded savanna.
Ajai lies on the western bank of the White Nile, approximately 40 km (25 mi) east of Arua.[1]
Historyedit
Historically, Ajai Game Reserve was only declared in limited area of 4 square Kilometers as a Game Sanctuary by the British Government in 1937. Prior to this, the former President Theodore Roosevelt of the United States of America (USA) had visited in King Ajai's palace during his African expedition in 1910. During President Roosevelt's expedition he hunted several White Rhino's which drastically reduced the number of White Rhinos in the reserve. Five years later, approximately 1915, King Ajai started supervising hunting in the area. Ajai's efforts later led to the declaration of a controlled area about 4 square kilometers by the government in 1937. The area declared a sanctuary was part of King Ajai's palace and didn't extend beyond. By the time Ajai Reserve was gazetted in 1965, the Ajai Rhino Sanctuary was home to 60 of Uganda's 80 remaining white rhino. The WWF funded an anti-poaching project there in 1962.
In 2002 Uganda Wildlife Authority began efforts to enlarge the boundaries of the reserve with a view of later re-introducing the White Rhino's into the reserve following years of the surviving Rhinos being kept at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary in Nakasongola District. These efforts of government have reached advanced stages with the hope of improving the tourism earnings and economic development of the local communities and the nation.
In 2008 the Uganda Wildlife Authority privatized the operation of Ajai. The concession went to Uganda Wildlife Safaris Ltd, a hunting and photographic tour operator.[2]
Wildlifeedit
The reserve supports around 35 kilometers of papyrus swamp along with grassy floodplains and Savannah woodland. Large mammals present include leopard, Uganda Kob, sitatunga, hippo, black-and-white colobus and warthog, and there are reputedly long-term plans to introduce southern white rhinos.[3]
Getting thereedit
To get to Ajai from Arua, follow the surfaced Packwach Road south for 15 kilometers to Olevu, then branch left on to a 40 kilometer dirt road running east to the reserve.
Referencesedit
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Ajai Game Reserve.
^IUCN Conservation Monitoring Center; Parks, IUCN Commission on National; Areas, Protected (1987). IUCN directory of afrotropical protected areas. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. p. 889. ISBN2880328047. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
^Mugabi, Frank (31 December 2008). "UWA delegates Ajai park management". New Vision. Archived from the original on 22 August 2013. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
^Briggs, Philip (2016). Uganda: The Bradt Travel Guide. England: Bradt Travel Guide Ltd. p. 322. ISBN9781784770228.
April 10, 2024
ajai, wildlife, reserve, small, conservation, protected, area, north, western, uganda, dominated, large, island, surrounded, seasonally, flooded, swamps, wooded, savanna, ajai, islandiucn, category, natural, monument, feature, location, ugandanearest, cityarua. The Ajai Wildlife Reserve is a small conservation protected area in North Western Uganda dominated by a large island surrounded by seasonally flooded swamps and wooded savanna Ajai Wildlife ReserveAjai s IslandIUCN category III natural monument or feature Location in UgandaNearest cityAruaCoordinates2 52 N 31 17 E 2 867 N 31 283 E 2 867 31 283Area148 km2 57 sq mi Established1965 Contents 1 Location 2 History 3 Wildlife 4 Getting there 5 ReferencesLocation editAjai lies on the western bank of the White Nile approximately 40 km 25 mi east of Arua 1 History editHistorically Ajai Game Reserve was only declared in limited area of 4 square Kilometers as a Game Sanctuary by the British Government in 1937 Prior to this the former President Theodore Roosevelt of the United States of America USA had visited in King Ajai s palace during his African expedition in 1910 During President Roosevelt s expedition he hunted several White Rhino s which drastically reduced the number of White Rhinos in the reserve Five years later approximately 1915 King Ajai started supervising hunting in the area Ajai s efforts later led to the declaration of a controlled area about 4 square kilometers by the government in 1937 The area declared a sanctuary was part of King Ajai s palace and didn t extend beyond By the time Ajai Reserve was gazetted in 1965 the Ajai Rhino Sanctuary was home to 60 of Uganda s 80 remaining white rhino The WWF funded an anti poaching project there in 1962 In 2002 Uganda Wildlife Authority began efforts to enlarge the boundaries of the reserve with a view of later re introducing the White Rhino s into the reserve following years of the surviving Rhinos being kept at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary in Nakasongola District These efforts of government have reached advanced stages with the hope of improving the tourism earnings and economic development of the local communities and the nation In 2008 the Uganda Wildlife Authority privatized the operation of Ajai The concession went to Uganda Wildlife Safaris Ltd a hunting and photographic tour operator 2 Wildlife editThe reserve supports around 35 kilometers of papyrus swamp along with grassy floodplains and Savannah woodland Large mammals present include leopard Uganda Kob sitatunga hippo black and white colobus and warthog and there are reputedly long term plans to introduce southern white rhinos 3 Getting there editTo get to Ajai from Arua follow the surfaced Packwach Road south for 15 kilometers to Olevu then branch left on to a 40 kilometer dirt road running east to the reserve References edit nbsp Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Ajai Game Reserve IUCN Conservation Monitoring Center Parks IUCN Commission on National Areas Protected 1987 IUCN directory of afrotropical protected areas Gland Switzerland IUCN p 889 ISBN 2880328047 Retrieved 22 August 2013 Mugabi Frank 31 December 2008 UWA delegates Ajai park management New Vision Archived from the original on 22 August 2013 Retrieved 22 August 2013 Briggs Philip 2016 Uganda The Bradt Travel Guide England Bradt Travel Guide Ltd p 322 ISBN 9781784770228 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ajai Wildlife Reserve amp oldid 1210961790, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
