The 2025 Bwindi Chimpanzee Census has confirmed the presence of an estimated 426 chimpanzees widely distributed across Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, marking what officials describe as a major milestone in strengthening evidence based conservation in one of Africa’s most important protected landscapes.

The results were officially launched today at the headquarters of the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) in Kampala by the Minister of State for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Martin Mugarra Bahinduka.

Speaking at the launch, Bahinduka emphasized the importance of science led conservation in safeguarding Uganda’s biodiversity. He said the confirmation of a substantial and widely distributed chimpanzee population strengthens understanding of the park as a critical habitat for great apes. He added that it reinforces the need to manage protected areas using sound scientific data, particularly in the face of climate change, habitat pressure, and growing demand for land and resources.

Bwindi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site internationally recognized for its mountain gorillas, has long been viewed as a global model for great ape conservation. While the park is globally associated with gorilla protection, this first dedicated and systematic chimpanzee census significantly expands scientific understanding of Bwindi’s great ape community. It also formally integrates chimpanzees into park wide conservation planning alongside gorillas.

The census was conducted between May and June 2025. It was led by the Jane Goodall Institute Uganda in partnership with the Uganda Wildlife Authority and the Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration (GVTC). The exercise was implemented alongside the park’s sixth mountain gorilla census, allowing researchers to gather comprehensive data on multiple flagship species within the same conservation landscape.

Using standardized line transect survey methods, including Standing Crop Nest Count and Marked Nest Count approaches, researchers surveyed 320.9 square kilometres across all four park sectors of Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo, and Rushaga. The effort generated the first robust, site specific baseline data on chimpanzee population size, density, and distribution within the park.

Findings confirm that chimpanzees are widely distributed throughout Bwindi, occupying habitats ranging from mixed Afromontane forest to higher elevation montane ecosystems. Under conservative modelling assumptions, the census estimated an average density of 1.33 chimpanzees per square kilometre. This challenges earlier assumptions that the species was rare or confined to marginal areas of the park.

Researchers also recorded minimal signs of human disturbance during the surveys, indicating that the habitat remains largely intact and effectively protected. Observations of other large mammals, including mountain gorillas and forest elephants, as well as additional primate species and vegetation characteristics, were documented. Officials say this broader dataset provides valuable context for integrated, multi species conservation planning.

Commenting on the findings, Dr. James Musinguzi, Executive Director of the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), said the census provides a strong scientific foundation for future conservation decision making. He noted that for the first time, there is clear scientific evidence confirming a substantial and widely distributed chimpanzee population within Bwindi. According to him, this strengthens the authority’s ability to plan, protect, and manage the park using evidence-based approaches, while ensuring that chimpanzees receive conservation attention alongside other great apes.

The Executive Director of the Jane Goodall Institute Uganda, Mr. James Byamukama, said the census addresses long standing knowledge gaps about chimpanzees in Bwindi. He explained that the evidence confirms chimpanzees are not a marginal presence but an integral component of the park’s ecosystem. He added that the baseline data will guide conservation planning, protected area management, and regional biodiversity strategies, while also supporting Uganda’s international conservation commitments.

Conservationists say the census also plays a critical role in operationalizing Uganda’s National Chimpanzee Conservation Strategy for the period 2023/24 to 2032/33. By providing site specific and scientifically robust population data, the census strengthens monitoring of population trends and habitat integrity in Uganda national parks. It also helps guide targeted law enforcement and align conservation investments with priority chimpanzee landscapes.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, located in southwestern Uganda, remains one of the most biologically diverse forests in Africa. Its dense vegetation and mountainous terrain have historically made wildlife monitoring challenging. The successful completion of a systematic chimpanzee census in such terrain is therefore viewed as a significant technical and logistical achievement.

Officials say the results will not only inform management within Bwindi but also contribute to broader regional conservation efforts across the greater Virunga landscape, where ecosystems and wildlife populations transcend national borders.

As Uganda continues to position itself as a leader in great ape conservation, authorities believe that science based research such as the 2025 Bwindi Chimpanzee Census will be essential in balancing biodiversity protection with sustainable development and tourism growth.

With 426 chimpanzees now confirmed and widely distributed across the park, conservation planners say Bwindi’s role as a stronghold for great apes has been further strengthened, offering renewed optimism for the long-term protection of one of Africa’s most iconic forest ecosystems.