Economic development activities within Murchison Falls National Park may inevitably compromise its ecology and biodiversity; it is therefore paramount to comprehensively understand the park ecology so as to devise means to safeguard its integrity and ecosystems.

Biodiversity Solutions Limited (BSL) is conducting a two (2) year study on behalf of Total E&P Uganda to examine the animal ranging patterns, spatial ecology, habitat utilization and stress levels of selected meso-large mammal species within MFNP to help assess, understand and manage potential impacts of oil development activities onto these species.

This helps in designing strategic measures and management approaches to mitigate and monitor potential development impacts in an attempt to conserve for generations, the viable biodiversity resources in MFNP.
Such baseline data is important in monitoring and evaluation of development impacts, and hence guiding adjustments of mitigation programs and actions.

We are using satellite collars (telemetry) to collect ranging data complimented by on-ground field surveys to collect behavioral and habitat data for the collared six key selected species; Uganda Kob, Jackson’s Hartebeest, Bohor Reedbuck, African Lion, Spotted Hyena and Rothschild’s Giraffe.   Three species (Lion, Giraffe and Kob) are assessed for hormonal stress by use of fecal samples with reference to environmental factors and observed behaviors.