Giraffes Relocated in Uganda to Avoid Oil Drilling Threats

WHO:

ABC News - Patrick Atimnedi, the Uganda Wildlife Authority assistant commissioner for veterinary services, led the giraffe translocation project.

ABC News - Wilson Katamigwa, the Ajai Wildlife Reserve senior warden in charge, provided insights on the reserve's wildlife population.

WHAT:

ABC News - Rangers began to translocate 12 endangered Nubian giraffes.

ABC News - The giraffes were moved 106 kilometers (65 miles) to Ajai Wildlife Reserve.

ABC News - The project is intended to preserve the Nubian giraffe population, enhance biodiversity, and diversify tourism opportunities.

ABC News - The reserve is 166 square kilometers (64 square miles) in size.

WHERE:

ABC News - The giraffes were relocated from Murchison Falls National Park to Ajai Wildlife Reserve in Uganda.

WHEN:

ABC News - The giraffe translocation project began on a Tuesday.

WHY:

ABC News - The relocation is necessary due to increased oil drilling activities in the Murchison Falls area, which threatens the giraffes' habitat.

ABC News - Uganda aims to produce its first oil from the area, with TotalEnergies beginning drilling in June 2023.

ABC News - The introduction of Nubian giraffes to the reserve is part of an ecological restoration effort due to threats from oil and gas activities, tourism development, climate change, bush encroachment, and invasive species.

HOW:

ABC News - The giraffes were directed into waiting trucks, where tree branches were mounted for them to chew during the journey.

ABC News - The reserve is being fenced, and the number of rangers has increased to protect the animals from poachers.

(UPDATED July 24, 2026 18:25 UTC)

Rangers have successfully translocated twelve endangered Nubian giraffes from Murchison Falls National Park to Ajai Wildlife Reserve in Uganda, a distance of 106 kilometers, as part of a project led by Patrick Atimnedi, the Uganda Wildlife Authority assistant commissioner for veterinary services. This initiative aims to preserve the Nubian giraffe population and enhance biodiversity, while also diversifying tourism opportunities in the 166 square kilometer reserve, which is being fenced and protected by an increased number of rangers. The relocation comes in response to threats from oil drilling activities in the Murchison Falls area, where TotalEnergies began drilling in June 2023, prompting the need for ecological restoration efforts to safeguard these majestic animals.