Browsing by Author "Chapman, Colin A."

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    First evidence of underground extractive tool use by chimpanzees in Kibale National Park, Uganda
    (Springer Nature, 2026-05-25) Krief, Sabrina; Magaldi, Hugo; Katumba, Raymond; Kajobe, Robert; Dif, Julia; Poquin, Pierre; Bortolamiol, Sarah; Tibesigwa, John Justice; Chapman, Colin A.; Watts, David P.
    Chimpanzee behavior, including tool use, varies widely among communities and populations. Tools made by chimpanzees for extracting products from the underground nests of stingless bees are among the most complex used by the species. They have rarely been described in East Africa and have never been observed in three chimpanzee communities in the Kibale National Park, Uganda—two at Ngogo and one at Kanyawara community—that have been studied for over 30 years. In the current study, we present the results of a 15-year study of a fourth community of chimpanzees ranging at Sebitoli, in the northern part of Kibale, and the insects they consume. We identified the stingless bees and carpenter bee species on which they feed. In addition, we collected the tools used by the Sebitoli chimpanzees. Of the 443 tools used in 152 episodes to extract products from insect nests, 332 were used by chimpanzees to explore or exploit underground or arboreal nests of Meliponula sp.. In addition, individuals sometimes left sticks vertically inserted into the entrances of underground bee nests. We discuss the implications for the transmission of the tool use behavior for subterranean extractive task within this social group, given that it appears to be absent in the other three Kibale Forest communities being studied. Our results highlight the importance of taking small-scale cultural variation into account in understanding chimpanzee behavioral repertoires as well as planning and implementing conservation strategies. We dedicate this article to the chimpanzee Hugo, who loved honey the most. He was slaughtered with machetes by poachers on April 3, 2026.
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    Managing Uganda's biodiversity amid climate and societal change
    (John Wiley & Sons, 2026-04-10) Omeja, Patrick A.; Golooba, Martin; Opito, Emmanuel A.; Tumwesigye, Charles; Chapman, Colin A.
    Uganda is home to remarkable biodiversity, supports diverse ecosystems ranging from glacier-topped mountains, tropical rain forests, to semi-arid systems, has a well-established and effective protected areas system, and benefits substantially from nature tourism. However, Uganda will face significant challenges if it is to maintain these riches. For example, the country's population is growing rapidly and is expected to surpass 100 million by 2050, more than 80% of households depend directly on natural resources for their livelihoods, and agricultural land has expanded by about 1% per year. Furthermore, Uganda is one of the world's most climate-vulnerable countries, and flooding and droughts are predicted to become much more common. Such changes will increase demands on natural resources, including those in protected areas. Uganda's government is aware of these challenges and has become a regional leader in environmental policy by taking a proactive approach. However, Uganda is struggling to educate its citizens and build the capacity for effective protection. Here we evaluate Uganda's conservation status and the threats to biodiversity from societal and climate change. We consider the current capacity and institutional infrastructure available to conserve the country's biodiversity, focusing on training and research, policy implementation and capacity in the field. Despite major challenges, clear pathways to a bright future are available.