OWL OBSERVATIONS AND WELFARE IN NAGONGERA, TORORO DISTRICT, UGANDA

OWL OBSERVATIONS AND WELFARE IN NAGONGERA, TORORO DISTRICT, UGANDA

Senhte Celsus

Department of Wildlife and Animal Resources Management (WARM), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Makerere University, P.O.Box, 7062, Kampala, Uganda.

Summary
While providing advisory services on animal production and ecosystem management in Tororo district under “Integrated Rural Community Development Initiative (IRUCODI)”, a local NGO, I inquired and heard, according to the rural dwellers, that the area had multiple species of owls. This prompted me to carry out a short survey on observations and welfare of the owl species in the area. A survey form was drawn indicating location (place) where owls were seen, time, number of times observed, date, description/features, identification and habitat type. We also took advantage of the people that gathered to attend trainings sessions on animal production and eco-system management and got information from them on owl sightings. It took us 5 days to collect the information provided herein.

The following owl species were observed, described and identified although no photos were taken of the adults: Barn Owl (Tyto alba affinis) and Scops Owl (more commonly the white-faced scops owl - Ptilopsis leucotis) were easily observed and identified. Other owls were not physically observed by the researcher (author), but according to the descriptions provided by the local people, Eagle owls (Bubo species) and African Wood Owl (Strix woodfordi) are likely to be found in the area as well.

These owl species that appear to be abundant in this area are however threatened with local extinction due to deforestation, fires and hunting by the local people for curiosity as well as food. Most local communities carry out these practices as a result of redundancy among the local people and ignorance of wildlife conservation especially by the youth. This basically calls for the increased participation of the local communities in wildlife conservation through participative learning/community education. Furthermore a definitive research/survey needs to be done to establish the approximate numbers and species of owls in the area. Introduction
Owls are widely distributed in Tororo district and occur in tall thick trees (Mvule, Quoworo and Makuyu trees, as they are known locally, church houses and old tree stumps. Many communities in Uganda are still ignorant of the usefulness of most wildlife. Owls are still culturally taken as indicators of bad omen and death. However in this particular area of study, owls are also a delicacy and the taste of its meat is favorably compared with that of chicken, although others claim it is abit sour. Owls being good environmental indicators need to be protected and conserved; hence the need for communities to be engaged in awareness and sensitization drives and workshops on owl conservation. The Integrated Rural Community Development Initiative has incorporated rural community conservation education into its programmes.

The number (population) and actual distribution and species of owls are not yet known in Uganda, therefore an understanding of local distribution and species wherever necessary is of utmost importance.

Methods
The short survey was carried out in Nagongera, Tororo district. Tororo, known for its famous rocks and Hindu temples, is located on the far eastern part of Uganda lying near the Kenyan boarder; and also bordered by Bugiri district in the West, Palisa in the North, Mbale in the North East and Busia in the South.

Our survey was conducted between 29th January and 2nd February. We observed owls and questioned rural communities at six woodland sites, randomly located along different roads 15km off Nagongera town site, 2 church sites and about 10 sites where the trainer/researcher was training local farmers on animal production. A survey form was also used to question the rural communities on owl observations, location, time of observation, number of times observed, date, description/features and habitat type.

We set out for owl observations and community interviewing between 12.00 noon and 19.30 local time daily.

Results and discussion
Although the actual distribution of owls is still unknown in Uganda, Tororo district seems to be one area where various owl species are in abundance. Locally known as “Tuula” in the native Japadhola language, owls have been on several occasions viewed on treetops, the ground and church buildings by the rural dwellers. It was easy observing most of the owls in the area, but only at a distance, as they flew off as we approached them.

Barn owls (Tyto alba affinis) were easily observed in dark church buildings, and small crevices/holes leading into church ceiling and described as in table 1a. The researcher did not have a camera to take photographs at that particular time of observation but had an owl guidebook to help with identification.

From a treetop, locally known as “Quoworo” an adult owl (table 1b) near the compound of Mr. Osinde in Pokongo Zone, a white-faced scops owl (Ptilopsis leucotis) was observed. In the same tree, a tree hole with two owlets of about 3-5 weeks of age were observed and identified (Figure 1 and 2). A trap (string trap) was also observed in the nest. The owlets were tied to prevent them from flying away as they matured. The string trap was to try and capture the adult scops owl as it came in to feed the young ones.

On another treetop “Makuyu” in Sere zone another white-faced scops owl was observed (Table 1c) but was too far for a photograph. It also had a nest (Figure 3 and 4) with about 3 owlets, which were far from reach and therefore not well observed for a clear photograph (Figure 3 and 4).

Other owl observations were as described by the rural dwellers (Table 1d – e) and from their descriptions, African Wood Owl (Strix woodfordi) (Table 1d), and eagle owls (Bubo spp.) (Table 1e), are likely to exist in this area as well.

According to the rural dwellers, there are three species of owls in the area, the largest locally known as “Nyagugu” (Table 1), medium sized and the small ones.

On a general observation, owls are increasingly trapped using strings (Figure 7 and 8) and net traps as well as injured and killed by using catapults (Figure 5 and 6). Owls are trapped, injured and killed for various reasons some of which include curiosity, as some individuals think of owls as rare creatures and want to look at them closely for admiration. However, they are also killed for protein supplementation; they describe owl meat as delicious and favorably compare it with that of chicken, whereas, others use them for traditional medicines.

Hunting of owls and other birds for food and sale is common among the Japadhola community; this is indicative of a lack of alternative income generating activities for most rural dwellers. Therefore, availability of alternative source of protein and income generating activities as well as increased provision of conservation education is a challenge that Integrated Rural Community Initiative (IRUCODI) is ready to undertake. This could save the mighty owls in this area from extinction.

figures and tables not shown. contact scelsus@yahoo.com for m,ore information

The conservation of aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity around Lake Victoria, Sango-bay region – Rakai district.

CELSUS SENHTE

The conservation of aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity around Lake Victoria, Sango-bay region – Rakai district.

Location: Rakai, Western region
Country: Uganda
Categories: Africa, Community, Seeds

Date: 4 Apr 2007

ACTIVITIES
1. Participatory action planning meetings will be held, involving all stakeholders; this will involve
mobilizing and meeting with Sub-county leaders, community/group leaders, opinion leaders
and key informants. Committees will be made to help in the formation of a community
environmental/wildlife action plan.
2. Communities will be sensitised on wetland/aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity values as well
as the functions of the general environmental management. Sensitisation meetings will be held
with S/c leaders, local leaders, key informants, opinion leaders, groups and communities. This
awareness creation will be aimed at changing community’s attitude in order to motivate them
to efficiently manage their eco-system.
3. The project will also involve trainings in, participatory planning, monitoring and evaluation,
project prioritisation training for Community Based Extension Workers (CBEWs) and
individual community groups, as well as group leaders, on environmental management,
environmental enrichment, natural resource management, biodiversity conservation,
improved crop and livestock production, will be done to build their capacities.
4. Furthermore, more than 3000 tree seedlings will be distributed to the selected communities
to plant in the areas that have lost tree cover. This will reduce on their poverty, improve their
nutrition, improve soil fertility, increase tree cover, reduce soil erosion and increase
biodiversity.
5. Hygiene and home improvement campaigns and competition will be carried out and prizes will
be awarded to motivate good performers.

For more information contact mailto:%20scelsus@yahoo.com

OWL OBSERVATIONS AND WELFARE IN NAGONGERA, TORORO DISTRICT, UGANDA