City chimps… the sequel

Rosette when she was still living in Hoima city (c) Matt McLennan

Situated between two important forest reserves in western Uganda, an unprotected strip of land provides a vital link and passageway for wildlife. Made up of small forest patches, together with a medley of villages and farms, the Budongo-Bugoma ‘corridor’ is home to a key population of around 300 chimpanzees.

These chimps don’t live alongside people, they live with people. Every day, the groups feed in farms, sleep in eucalyptus plantations and navigate a human-dominated landscape. But, despite living so close to local communities, the population remains stable.

“This is largely thanks to the fantastic work done by our long-term colleague, Dr Matt McLennan and his team at Bulindi Chimpanzee and Community Project,” explains Anna Cryer, Born Free’s Conservation Admin and Communications Officer. “They’re one of our ‘Tier 2 partners’, and we’re honoured to have supported their life-saving work for over ten years. With each update we receive from Matt and his BCCP team, we’re endlessly impressed by the work they do.”

You might remember we previously shared chimpanzee Rosette’s story and her struggle to find a new group, after a ‘wrong turn’ led her to living in Hoima city. The BCCP team was monitoring Rosette closely, hoping she could find her way out of the bustling metropolis, the commercial centre of Hoima district. But then, in February 2025, troubling news. Rosette had disappeared.

“The team hoped for the best, but feared the worst,” Anna continued. “Some of Rosette’s human neighbours hadn’t been pleased about her presence in the city, and chimpanzees, especially those alone, are extremely vulnerable.

“The BCCP team was already monitoring six chimp groups in the vital corridor, and hoped Rosette would safely make her way to one of these families. But, as time went on, they began to lose hope.”

Last April, the monitoring team expanded and began following a seventh group, the ‘Birongo chimpanzees’. Living in the south-western section of the corridor, they were a small group, with only a few members.

Rosette in Birongo (c) BCCP

Not surprisingly, getting to know a new group takes time. The chimps – such complex, intelligent animals – have to get accustomed to the presence of the Chimp Monitors. Initially the chimps will be skittish, making close observations trickier. But, as time goes on, the team can get closer, and get to know individuals better.

So, you can imagine the team’s surprise when they realised they already knew one of the females in the Birongo group – it was Rosette! The whole BCCP team was delighted and amazed. Rosette had not only made her way out of the city safely, but she’d also found a new family.

“Rosette’s story is triumph against the odds,” said a jubilant Matt McLennan. “Having faced daily harassment from people for 16 months, and narrowly escaping capture several times, she eventually made it out of the residential area and – somehow – located other wild chimpanzees 15km (nine miles) away!

“Rosette’s new family is small, with only one adult male. So, the addition of a young female of breeding age is a major boost for this small band of chimpanzees, giving them a better chance of survival into the future.”

Thanks to the dedication of the BCCP team, and your support, Rosette and her fellow chimpanzees, living in the Budongo-Bugoma corridor, remain safe.