Animals and Wildlife in Queen Elizabeth National Park – For many years, Queen Elizabeth National Park has been known as one of the best places for wildlife viewing in Uganda.
During the 1906 census, it was recorded to have the highest number of herbivores on the planet. These are wild animals that feed on plants, unlike carnivores that feed on the meat of other animals.
Reptiles are also found in the park. Some crawl on the ground while others are seen on tree branches or hiding in the bushes. Some are dangerous, while others are harmless.
Common herbivores in the park include hippos, African bush elephants, cape buffaloes, Uganda kobs, bushbucks, topis, defassa waterbucks, common warthogs, forest hogs, oribis, and bohor reedbucks.
The park is also home to 95 species of mammals, including four of the Big Five: lions, elephants, African buffaloes, and leopards. The park does not have rhinos, which are the fifth animal in the Big Five list.
Queen Elizabeth is also special because it is home to the famous tree-climbing lions found in the Ishasha sector. These lions are rare and only about 76 live in this part of the park, out of the 400 in the whole country.
Many people wonder why these lions climb trees. Some say it helps them spot prey better, while others believe it helps them avoid the hot ground. Scientists suggest that climbing may be a natural behavior since lions belong to the cat family.
The park also holds the highest number of hippos in Uganda. About 5,000 hippos live in the Kazinga Channel, a stream that connects Lake Edward and Lake George and supports many aquatic species.
The number of elephants has also gone up in recent years because of strong efforts to stop poaching. Today, there are more than 4,000 elephants in the park. They are followed by around 1,700 buffaloes.
Other interesting animals include royal antelopes, which are the smallest antelope species in the world. The park is also rich in primates, birds, insects, plants, and water bodies, making it a true treasure of wildlife.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to many wild animals and one of the best wildlife destinations in Uganda.
