Pian, Upe Game Reserve Loses Thousands of Birds Fying Awayin Search of Water

The Uganda Wild Life Authority-UWA has registered a reduction in bird species in Pian, Upe, and Matheniko, Bokora game reserves due to the persistent drought that has dried up all water sources in the reserve.

Speaking to URN on Sunday,  James Okware, the senior warden in charge of Pian, Upe, and Matheniko, Bokora reserves, said that many birds have migrated. Okware, says that the three-game reserves had more than 120 different spices. He, however, says that others migrated from Ngorongoro in Tanzania, Masarbit, Congo, and have been staying in Karamoja. 

He, however, says that the bird species have reduced to less than 90. Okware says that they are trying to write proposals from well-wishers to support them to establish some valley dams around the game reserve. 

"We are losing a lot of tourists interested in watching birds in Karamoja," he said. Paul Anyakun, one of the tour guides based in Karamoja under Destination Nomad Africa, said that the number of tourists interested in watching birds in Karamoja has reduced.

"From the time the lockdown was lifted, we have only recieved three tourists from the Netherlands coming for bird watching," he said. According to Anyakun, other birds have migrated to live with humans in their homes due to water. John Pedo, another tour guide said even the butterflies have also moved out of their habitat.