SAD! Chimpanzee kills baby in Masindi
This is the third attack on babies in Nyantonzi Sub County this year.
Masindi: Residents of Katugo 2 village in Nyantonzi Sub County, Masindi district are in shock and grief after a chimpanzee killed a two-month baby.
The incident happened on Saturday noon when Flavia Bako, the deceased’s mother, had gone with the baby to Budongo Forest Reserve to collect firewood.
The deceased has been identified as Fatuma Ayikoru.
Odua Arcanzilo, the LC1 chairperson Katugo 2 village told this publication that while in the forest, the baby cried which attracted the chimpanzees to where the baby, its mother and sitter were.
He explained that when the chimpanzees stormed the place, the duo fled leaving behind the baby who was grabbed and taken by the chimpanzees.
Odua added that later, the area residents went to rescue the baby only to find it dead in the forest. ‘’Three chimpanzees attacked, they fled the forest leaving behind the baby and when residents went back to rescue the baby, they found when the chimpanzees had already killed it.’’
Sunday Eyotu, the LC3 Chairperson for Nyantonzi Sub County, confirmed the incident observing need for the sensitization of the community members since there are increased cases of human-wildlife conflict in the sub county.
Bashir Hangi, the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) Spokesperson, confirmed the incident and condoled with the bereaved family.
Hangi said UWA would assess and investigate the incident and if it is found that it happened outside the protected areas, the bereaved family would be compensated.
Hangi emphasized the need to sensitize the public in order to ensure peaceful co-existence between the human and the chimpanzees to avoid incidents
This is the third attack on babies in Nyantonzi Sub County this year.
The first attack happened in February when a chimpanzee grabbed a baby from its mother severely injuring it while the second occurred in May when a chimpanzee again grabbed a baby from its mother and climbed a tree with it. Fortunately this time round the chimpanzee dropped the baby unhurt later when the residents lured it with yellow bananas
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