Primate conservation and attitudes towards primates around Kibale national park

Abstract

People’s attitude towards primates is one of the major factors of primate conservation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the connection between the current local knowledge and cultural significance of the primates to the native human settlement adjacent to Kibale National Park. The study was guided by the following objectives: (i) To understand local people’s perception towards primates; (ii) to assess the challenges and of the existence of primates to the people of Kibale; and (iii) to identify appropriate conflict mitigation measures. Using random selection 60 respondents were interviewed 15 from each of the 4 sample villages. Qualitative data were coded, organized, stored and analyzed according to the various level of measurements such as category type, ordinal and continuous questions. The spreadsheet or statistical package was entered into MS-Excel and SPSS for analysis. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics including percentages and also presented in bar charts and graphs. Analysis of the responses revealed that crop raiding is the major challenge and conflict between human settlement and the primates, which has greatly affected the local people’s attitude towards conservation of the primates. This study recommended that the government through the Uganda Wildlife Authority, conservation stakeholders and the communities adjacent to the park should collaborate and have good relationship in order to ensure coexistence between the primates and native human population leading to conservation of the primates.