Can a solution be found? 219● At the moment we are planning to ban the use of man-traps through an amnesty. If the above
issues are not tackled, our mission is bound to fail.
● Government policies do not provide for compensation in such cases. As conservationists we
should be flexible and think to the ground.He made the following recommendations:● A tentative provision should be put in place for compensation of such incidents directly or
indirectly.
● A team from Masindi should visit the affected families for counseling and education and
should remember to pay a small compensation. This is a temporary measure whilst compre-
hensive education and sensitization about chimpanzees is going on.
● An immediate programme should be broadcast on local radio focusing on the interactions
between the local people and chimpanzees in order to reduce such accidents (Kyamanywa
2002 a).Can a solution be found?
To date there is still no compensation scheme for victims of chimpanzee attacks. BFP is
reluctant to pay compensation because such payment indicates responsibility. An
ex gratiapayment was made to the father of the second girl attacked, but this is not the
same as a proper government-backed or UWA-backed compensation scheme. I agree
with Kyamanywa that if conservation organizations are going to protect chimpanzees,
then even if some responsibility for the attacks rests with local people for growing crops
close to chimpanzee habitat, there should be a properly sanctioned education pro-
gramme and a compensation scheme funded by local or central government authorities
or UWA.
There has been some movement in the direction of finding a solution. In April, July
and August 2002 meetings were held in Masindi, attended by JGI, UWA, the local
District Environment Office, Department of Agriculture, Vermin Control, Forest
Department, BFP and NACOPRA. Plans have been made but much still needs to be
done. Issues discussed have included:
● Where chimpanzees are located outside the main Budongo Forest block.
● Whether such chimpanzees are able to travel back to the main forest.
● Whether these out-forest chimpanzees are subgroups of a widely dispersed commu-
nity and meet up with each other from time to time.
● Whether the out-groups have enough food inside their forest patches to survive or
are forced to supplement their diet with human crops.
● How leg-hold traps can be banned.