Entebbe – Wildlife conservationists on Saturday gathered at the Uganda Wildlife and Education Centre(UWEC) in Entebbe Municipality, Wakiso District, to install a new heir to Zakayo, the chimpazee who died at the zoo about two months ago at the age of 54.
At the event graced by Dr Jane Goodall, the United Nations Nature ambassador, the heir was a two-year-old chimpazee, who was named Zakayo II.
Dr Goodall commended Uganda for conserving the primates and urged government to take the gospel of conservation to schools.
“We need to empower the young people to carry on the mantle of saving man’s relative and other resources for a longterm benefit,” she said.
“Supposing all zoos were suddenly closed down by decree, what would happen to the animals? We must fight to save those in the wild and make their habitat safer,” she added.
The UWEC executive director, Mr James Musinguzi, said they believe the gesture is to send a message of conservation to the rest of the country.
Zakayo II was picked from Kasyoha Kitomi forest reserve in western Uganda and brought to the zoo on May 1 this year.
