A landmark scientific census has confirmed the presence of 426 chimpanzees in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, marking the first comprehensive population assessment of the species in the forest long celebrated for its mountain gorillas.
The survey, conducted by the Jane Goodall Institute in partnership with the Uganda Wildlife Authority, ends decades of reliance on rough estimates derived from gorilla surveys and provides the first scientifically verified population count of chimpanzees in the UNESCO World Heritage site.
Officials say the findings elevate Bwindi’s global conservation significance while strengthening Uganda’s position as one of Africa’s leading primate destinations.
“For many years, the status of chimpanzees in this unique ecosystem remained inadequately understood,” said Martin Mugarra Bahinduka. “The findings being released have changed that narrative by providing clear scientific evidence on the presence, distribution and conservation importance of chimpanzees in Bwindi.”
Despite Bwindi’s international reputation as the stronghold of the endangered mountain gorilla, chimpanzees had never been the subject of a dedicated population count in the park.
James Byamukama the Executive Director of the Jane Goodall Institute in Uganda, said the new census addresses what conservationists long considered a scientific blind spot.
“Chimpanzees have been counted elsewhere, but in Bwindi it was always an estimate based on the gorilla census,” Byamukama said, noting that the last gorilla census had recommended a separate count for chimpanzees.
The census confirmed that the chimpanzee population is widely distributed within the forest, with higher concentrations recorded in the northern section of the park, including areas around Buhoma.
One of the study’s notable findings is the confirmation that chimpanzees and gorillas share overlapping habitats within Bwindi, something researchers had long suspected but never scientifically validated.
“We noticed that there is an overlap in chimpanzees and gorillas. They seem to live together,” said Michael Jurua, the lead researcher.
According to the survey, chimpanzees tend to dominate the northern sectors of the park, while gorillas are more commonly found in the southern areas toward Sarambwe.
The discovery, officials say, highlights Bwindi as one of the rare ecosystems where multiple great ape species coexist alongside human communities.
James Musinguzi, the UWA Executive Director, described the finding as transformative for conservation planning.
“With the chimpanzees, the gorillas and the people, you now have the three apes in one environment,” Musinguzi said, noting that chimpanzees are “not incidental occupants of the forest but an integral and widely distributed component of the Bwindi great ape assemblage.”
Uganda’s tourism officials say the census also has major implications for the country’s wildlife tourism industry.
Presenting the findings to international travel stakeholders during the global tourism fair ITB Berlin in Berlin, the Uganda Tourism Board said the confirmed chimpanzee population strengthens Bwindi’s reputation as a multi-primate destination.
Bwindi has long been marketed internationally for gorilla trekking, attracting high-value travellers seeking exclusive wildlife encounters. Officials say the confirmation of a substantial chimpanzee population adds another dimension to the park’s tourism offering.
The findings also reinforce Uganda’s claim as Africa’s “primate capital”, with other thriving chimpanzee populations found in Kibale National Park and several forest ecosystems across the country.
Tourism authorities argue that the verified numbers provide scientific evidence that Uganda’s wildlife resources are sustainably managed — a key factor for modern ecotourism markets that prioritize measurable conservation outcomes.
Science Behind Counting Hidden Apes
Because chimpanzees are elusive and rarely seen in dense tropical forests, researchers rely on indirect methods to estimate their population.
Scientists counted chimpanzee nests built in trees across the forest. Each chimpanzee constructs a fresh leafy nest every night and occasionally builds day nests while resting during long movements that can stretch up to 10 kilometres.
“A nest is where a chimpanzee sleeps every single night — it’s basically a home and a bed,” explained chimpanzee expert Peter Apel.
Researchers then applied a formula that factors in nest density, nest-building rates and the average time it takes for nests to decay — roughly 55 days in Uganda’s climate — to estimate the overall population.
Conservation leaders say the census provides critical data that will guide future park management decisions, including long-term chimpanzee monitoring and expanded tourism opportunities in the northern sector where the animals are most concentrated.
Dr. Musinguzi said the findings could also help diversify tourism and benefit communities living around the park.
“This is an opportunity for us to emancipate communities through diversifying sustainable tourism,” he said.
Researchers also reported that most parts of the forest remain relatively intact, although traces of illegal activity were found in areas bordering poorer communities, highlighting the continued need for community engagement and conservation support.
For Byamukama, the results underscore the importance of protecting Uganda’s forests at a time when natural ecosystems face increasing pressure from agriculture and land use changes.
“We want to inspire and motivate Ugandans and people around the world to live in harmony with nature and take action on behalf of the planet we share,” he said.
With gorillas, chimpanzees and surrounding communities all sharing the same ancient forest, conservationists say Bwindi is now firmly established as one of the world’s most important great ape landscapes — backed by science.
