The possible extinction of flamingos on Lake Munyanyange in Katwe in Kasese district is threatening local tourism. Flamingos are famous for their bright pink feathers, stilt-like legs, and S-shaped neck. Lake Munyanyange is predominantly a host of over 50 bird species but a large population of these are flamingos.
There are growing fears among domestic tourism promoters and conservationists over what seems to be a possible extinction of the birds following the reduction of their numbers around the lake. Conservationists believe that the destruction of their habitat especially wetlands, disturbance through livestock rearing, urban expansion, and illegal trade have contributed to the reduction of flamingos.
The Katwe-Kabatoro Town Council LC III Chairperson, John Bosco Kananura told URN that Munyanyange is the second highest revenue earner for the town council after the Katwe salt lake. Sulait Mabulu, the manager of Munyanyange caves lodge, which is adjacent to the lake says the reduction of the bird population has significantly seen a drop in the number of tourists interested in bird watching in the area.
He says that it’s on very few occasions that one can find a high concentration of the white and pink birds on the lake, a problem he attributes to the high human population around the lake.
Nicholas Kagongo, the director of Katwe ecotourism center has urged the local authorities to expedite by-laws to help protect the lake area from destruction. He says they have been promoting community-based tourism in the habitat with these much-coveted birds so that the locals can benefit through bird-watching tourism.
Kagongo also says that there is a challenge for pastoralists whose animals feed and destroy endemic grasses used by birds to build their nets where they lay eggs.
The Katwe-Kabatooro town council land board Chairperson, John Maate says the area of the settlement is a recommended distance from the lake. Kananura says they are starting awareness campaigns to encourage the community around the lake to preserve it and offer a quiet environment to the birds.
Uganda has 11 percent of the global bird diversity and 50 percent of Africa’s bird species diversity. However, the conservation of birds is still in its infancy. According to the Ministry of Tourism, the country generates more than US$ 6 million annually from birding tourism alone.URN
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