KAMPALA, Uganda — The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) released four rehabilitated African Grey Parrots on Ngamba Island, equipping them with GPS trackers in a move described as a global first for the species.
The parrots are part of a group of 119 birds that were confiscated at the Bunagana border in April 2022 and cared for at the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre (UWEC) in Entebbe. The release follows a similar effort in June 2023 when more than 50 birds were set free in Kibaale National Park.
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Chief Warden David Musingo called the release “a milestone in avian conservation.” The GPS devices will allow conservationists to monitor the birds’ movements and adaptation to the wild. The project, a collaboration with Chubu University and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), aims to support both conservation and ecotourism.
Professor Ushida Kazunari of Chubu University stated that initial tests of the GPS trackers have been promising.
African Grey Parrots are listed as endangered due to habitat loss and illegal wildlife trade. Conservationists believe these monitoring efforts will strengthen Uganda’s wildlife protection and set a new standard for global conservation of the species.
