2025 census confirms 426 chimpanzees in Bwindi Forest: a new milestone for great ape conservation in Uganda
The results of the first systematic and dedicated chimpanzee census in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in southwestern Uganda confirmed an estimate of 426 individuals distributed throughout the park. The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) announced that this is a key figure for science-based management of one of Africa’s most important protected areas, internationally known for mountain gorillas, but now also gaining a detailed, mapped picture of another great ape—the chimpanzee.
The official presentation of the findings was held on 24 February 2026 at the UWA headquarters in Kampala, and the results were presented by the State Minister for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Martin Mugarra Bahinduka. According to him, confirmation of a “significant and widely distributed” chimpanzee population further underscores the importance of data-driven protected-area management, especially amid climate change, habitat pressures, and growing demand for land and resources.
Why Bwindi is a special place in African conservation
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park lies at the transition between lowland and montane forests, on the edge of the Rift Valley, and due to its exceptional biodiversity it is listed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. UNESCO notes that the area covers about 32,000 hectares (about 320 km²) and stands out for a large number of plant species, including more than 160 tree species and over 100 fern species.
In its official information, UWA emphasizes that it is one of Africa’s oldest and most biologically diverse rainforests, and the park is globally recognized as a key refuge for mountain gorillas. That is why the confirmed number of chimpanzees carries additional weight: Bwindi is a rare example of an area where two species of great apes coexist in the same forest system, which also raises more complex questions of management, monitoring, and protection.
How the census was conducted: from line transects to nest counts
UWA states that the census was carried out between May and June 2025, led by the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) Uganda in partnership with UWA and the Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration (GVTC). Fieldwork was conducted in parallel with the sixth mountain gorilla census in Bwindi, which is organizationally important because it shows an attempt to link and methodologically harmonize great ape monitoring.
The methodological framework relied on standardized line transects and nest-counting approaches, including the Standing Crop Nest Count and Marked Nest Count methods. Since chimpanzees regularly build nests for resting, the number and distribution of nests can serve as a reliable indicator of presence and population density, with appropriate models and assumptions about nest-building and decay rates.
According to UWA, research teams covered 320.9 square kilometers across all four sectors of the park—Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo, and Rushaga—thus obtaining for the first time a robust, locally specific database on population size, density, and spatial distribution of chimpanzees in Bwindi.
Key findings in numbers
- Estimated population: 426 chimpanzees, widely distributed in the park.
- Average density: 1.33 chimpanzees per km² (under conservative modeling, according to UWA).
- Survey area: 320.9 km², covered across all park sectors.
- Habitats: from mixed afromontane forests to higher montane ecosystems.
What the number 426 really means: breaking old assumptions
For years, Bwindi has been discussed primarily through the prism of mountain gorillas, while chimpanzees were often mentioned as a less visible, fragmented, or marginal population. UWA notes that the resulting density and spatial distribution call into question earlier assumptions that chimpanzees are rare or confined to marginal areas of the park. In other words, the census suggests that chimpanzees are not “incidental” residents of the Bwindi forest, but a stable and important part of its ecosystem.
UWA Executive Director Dr. James Musinguzi, in a statement at the presentation of the findings, emphasized that for the first time there is clear scientific evidence confirming a “significant and widely distributed” chimpanzee population in the park, and that these data will enable better planning, protection, and management, with chimpanzees receiving a level of attention comparable to other great apes.
James Byamukama, Executive Director of JGI Uganda, added that the census closes long-standing knowledge gaps and confirms that chimpanzees are not a marginal presence but an integral part of the Bwindi ecosystem—important also for regional biodiversity strategies and Uganda’s international commitments in nature conservation.
Great ape conservation in practice: threats, monitoring, and communities
Numbers alone do not protect animals, but they change how conservation is planned and implemented. UWA states that the census recorded minimal signs of human disturbance, indicating that the habitat is largely intact and effectively protected. The same fieldwork also recorded other large mammal species, including mountain gorillas and forest elephants, as well as other primates and vegetation characteristics—aimed at integrated multi-species conservation planning.
In the broader context of chimpanzee conservation, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List states that the common chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) is an endangered species, and identifies poaching, infectious diseases, and habitat loss and degradation caused by expanding human activities as key drivers of population declines. Although Bwindi is described in official reports as a relatively well-preserved area, these global pressures make precise local data increasingly important: without a clear baseline it is difficult to demonstrate trends, assess risks, or justify investments in protection.
From paper to field: how the census ties into the national strategy
UWA points out that the Bwindi census operationally implements Uganda’s National Chimpanzee Conservation Strategy for the period 2023/24–2032/33, because it provides “locally specific, scientifically robust” data for implementing measures. The strategy itself stresses the need for updated knowledge on population size, distribution, and threats, so that chimpanzee protection and the integrity of their habitats can be better embedded in policies and budget priorities.
In practice, this means several concrete shifts: stronger monitoring of population and habitat trends, targeting surveillance and law enforcement to higher-risk areas, and aligning investments—from field teams to community work—toward areas proven to be key for chimpanzees.
Coexistence with gorillas: an opportunity, but also a management challenge
Bwindi has long been a “global model” of great ape conservation because of gorillas, and gorilla-related tourism is often cited as one element that secures funding for rangers, monitoring, and local community programs. International news agencies in recent years have reported that protection measures and tourism revenues have contributed to the recovery of mountain gorillas in the region, while also emphasizing that limited space and pressures at park edges are a long-term challenge.
In this context, a reliable picture of chimpanzees in Bwindi can affect the entire management system. If gorilla and chimpanzee monitoring is coordinated, it is easier to track changes in space use, possible changes in food availability, group movements, and disease-related risks. Zoonoses and respiratory diseases, for example, are recognized as major risks for great apes in areas with increasing human–wildlife contact, further emphasizing the need for stricter visitation rules, sanitary protocols, and education.
What comes after the census: measurable policies instead of “by-eye” estimates
For UWA and partners, the greatest value of the census is that it sets a starting point—a baseline—against which future measurements can be compared. In practice, this can mean:
- planning regular repeat censuses to track the trend (growth, stagnation, or decline) and respond quickly to changes,
- more precise identification of priority zones for patrolling and preventing illegal activities,
- better alignment of tourism activities and protection regimes to reduce pressure on sensitive areas,
- strengthening cooperation with local communities in mitigating human–wildlife conflict and creating economic alternatives,
- linking Bwindi data with regional initiatives, especially through transboundary collaboration (GVTC), because ecosystems and pressures on them do not end at administrative borders.
In its announcement, UWA emphasizes that the findings “formally integrate” chimpanzees into park-wide conservation planning alongside gorillas. Such a measurement-based approach with transparent methods is also important for international partners who fund conservation projects, because it enables verifiable goals and results, not just declarative policies.
The broader message of the Bwindi results: conservation that can be proven
A census confirming 426 chimpanzees in the Bwindi forest is not just a number to be cited in press releases. It is a signal that one of Africa’s most famous forests, often viewed through gorillas, is increasingly being seen as a holistic system in which multiple key species must be understood and protected at the same time. If estimates turn into regular tracking, and monitoring into concrete field measures, Bwindi could become an example of how great ape conservation shifts from the level of a “success story” to the level of lasting, measurable natural resource management.
Sources:- Uganda Wildlife Authority – announcement of the chimpanzee census results (24 February 2026) (link)- WWF Uganda – summary and context of the UWA announcement on the Bwindi census (24 February 2026) (link)- UNESCO World Heritage Centre – description and values of the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park site (link)- IUCN Red List – assessment of the status of Pan troglodytes and key threats (PDF) (link)- Uganda Wildlife Authority – National Chimpanzee Conservation Strategy (December 2023, PDF) (link)- Associated Press – context on gorilla tourism and management in Bwindi (2025) (link)
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