Biodiversity in Murchison Falls National Park; Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s oldest and largest game park, comprised of grasslands, wooded savannah, tropical forests, wetlands and open water covering estimating about 39,000 hacter at an altitude of more than 600meter. However, the park is home to over 109 species of mammals including; hippopotamus, antelopes, giraffes, Oribis, hartebeest and Uganda Kobs ,145 species of trees and over 451 bird species among others. Murchison Falls National Park is one of the top places in Africa to see the rare shoebill stork.
The boat trip on the Victoria Nile is one of the most done activities within the park which is a great start for many waters associated bird species. With over 53 species are recorded, raptors are also represented. Murchison Falls National Park has a thrilling checklist that contains more than 451 bird species. Migratory bird species which can be seen from November to April.
Murchison Falls National Park supports the four of the ‘big five’ and only rhino being absent. Buffalo and elephant are the commonly seen animals. There is a very highest densities of lions that like to prey on the abundantly available Uganda Kob. Hyena is presented but rare and zebra is absent.
The Victoria Nile is a home for wildlife species and it teems with crocodiles and hippo’s species. Chimpanzees can be tracked in neighboring Budongo Forest Reserve and various herds of the localized Rothschild’s giraffe are found within the park. The rare patas monkey can sometimes be viewed on the grassy plains.
What is the Biological Diversity of Uganda? Facts About Biological Diversity of Uganda?
Uganda hosts over 53.9% of the world’s population of mountain gorillas ,11% of the world’s recorded bird species ‘’50% of Africa’s bird species’’, 7.8% ‘’345 species’’ of the Global Mammal Diversity, 19% ‘’86 species’’ of Africa’s amphibian species richness and 14% ‘’142 species’’ of Africa’s reptile species richness ‘1,249 species.
Although, Murchison Falls National Park is most famous for the most powerful waterfall in the world. Every second, the equivalent of 200 bathtubs of water is forced through a gorge less than seven paces wide. The pressure is so unique that the ground trembles around it with gainful sightseeing.
There is list of medium sized mammals observed in the MFPA from camera trap camera trap photos including;
Primate Species commonly seen, Black and white colobus, Chimpanzee, Olive Baboon, Patas monkey, Vervet, African civet, Large spotted genet, slender mongoose, Marsh Mongoose, Banded mongoose, Servaline Genet, Rusty-spotted genet among others.
Carnivora species; White tailed mongoose, serval cat lion, leopard, Side stripped jackal, Spotted hyena, Ratel many more.
Pholidota Species; Hippopotamus, Rothschild Giraffes, Bushbuck, Bush duiker, Bush pig, Buffalo, Giant Pangolin many more.
Artiodactyl species; Waterbuck, warthogs, Uganda Kobs, Reedbuck, Oribi, Jackson’s Hartebeest many more.
Lagomorpha species; Bunyoro Rabbit
Proboscidae; Elephants
Rodentia; Cane rat, crested porcupine
Tubulidentata species; Aardvark species
The park boosts with diverse small mammals over 317 species can be encountered and 60 small mammal species are among wildlife Conservation Society.
List of Birds to see in Murchison Falls National Park includes; Palm-nut vulture, Malachite kingfisher, Goliath heron, Giant kingfisher, Abyssinian ground hornbill, African Jacana, Blue-headed coucal, Denham’s bustard, Black-headed gonolek, African quail finch, Black-billed barbet, Black -headed lapwing, White-browed sparrow-weaver, Swamp flycatcher, Squacco heron, Speckle-fronted weaver, Silverbird, Shoebill, Ed-throated bee-eater, Piapiac among others. Best time for birding is during wet season starting from April to May and August to October. Migratory bird species are present from November to April.
Bat Species; the park houses around 27 bat species and during the time for research -a number of them can be observed in each of the three protected area within Murchison Falls National Park. It is home rich in bat species compared with the wildlife Reserves. One species id bat species found on the survey, Chordophone which was the first record for Uganda for this species in Murchison Falls National Park.
More facts about Murchison Falls National Park? Murchison Falls Conservation Area is largest protected area covering 5072 square kilometers. These rewards Murchison Falls National Park with about 3,893square kilometer wildlife reserves. Well, Murchison National Park is one of the Uganda’s oldest protected areas.