2017 UGANDA TRIP

Care for Karamoja's Sheri Horiszny returned to Uganda Wildlife Education Centre and Kidepo Valley National Park in November 2017. She was joined by Allison Suda, a giraffe keeper at Roosevelt Park Zoo and longtime supporter of C4K. Together they met with UWEC staff and rangers at Kidepo Valley National Park to observe the ongoing ostrich egg incubation project, fortify local conservation efforts, and implement educational programs for over 150 school-age children. 

Kids at Kidepo

Care for Karamoja and Uganda Wildlife Education Centre organized supplies and program elements for over 150 school children and 30 teachers from the areas surrounding Kidepo Valley National Park. For most of these kids, it was the first time they had ever visited the park or seen its native wildlife. All of the students took pledges and created action plans for getting their peers and communities to participate in conservation once they returned home. Engaging the local youth in conservation efforts and behaviors is an important step in the effort to preserve the natural environment for future generations.

Supplies for Rangers

Care for Karamoja gathered and transported much needed equipment to the rangers at Kidepo Valley National Park. The rain gear, flashlights, and other supplies will be used by rangers and nearly 300 scouts living in the community lands adjacent to Kidepo Valley National Park. These scouts are trained by the rangers to aid them in deterring poaching in areas surrounding the park. The rangers and the local scouts make a huge difference in conservation by monitoring animals for signs of illness or distress, educating visitors, and deterring poachers.  

Ostrich Incubator Project

In 2013, Care for Karamoja donated and shipped an ostrich egg incubator to Uganda Wildlife Education Centre with the hope that we could partner on an ostrich breeding and reintroduction program. Sheri and Allison checked on the progress of this project and the veterinarians explained the rigorous protocols they are testing in order to successfully hatch and raise ostrich chicks. So far, the vet staff has been successful with hatching chickens and hopes to have ostrich success in the near future.