The report assesses the presence of okapis in the Maramagambo forest of Queen Elizabeth National Park, based on a brief ground survey carried out over three days in July 2022. Findings indicate a deteriorating forest condition characterized by illegal activities and an inadequate canopy, leading to a conclusion that okapis are unlikely to inhabit the area. The limited survey duration is acknowledged as a constraint, yet it underscores a concerning status for the north Maramagambo forest.

1. Final report of findings to the Monitoring & Research unit of the UWA,
November 2022
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Looking for Presence of Okapi in Maramagambo- the rain forest of QENP
Zvi Sever
School of Zoology, Faculty of Life sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
sever.zvi@gmail.com
The Report....................................................................................................................1
Appendix.......................................................................................................................2
Pictures.......................................................................................................................3
Maps...........................................................................................................................4
The Report
In order to obtain data on the presence of Okapis inhabiting the tropical rain forest of
Queen Elizabet National Park, by the help of Traps cameras, we (see appendix Pic. 1)
did ground survey during the dry season (July 2022) in north Maramagambo Forest
(tropical, moist, semi-deciduous forest), (see appendix Map 1, Map 2 and Map 3), to
find whether this forest is suitable for the needs of the Okapi (continuous canopy for
long distance and open area among the tree's trunks, enable observation for at least 80
meters).
Because of bureaucracy obstacles, in order to obtain data on the possible presence of
Okapi in the rain forest of QENP, Maramagambo Forest, we did only 3 days of
walking survey in north Maramagambo forest.
The ground survey (using GPS) from Nyamusingiri ranger post to South west, include
one day of walking and two days of walking with overnight in the rain forest. The one
day walking was to a direct distance of 6.3 Kilometers and back to the ranger post:
Map 1- Google earth map of the 6.3 Kilometers (Blue- the ranger post)

2. Final report of findings to the Monitoring & Research unit of the UWA,
November 2022
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The two days walking was to a direct distance of 8.6 Kilometers at the first day and at
the next day, back to the ranger post:
Map 2- Google earth map of the 8.6 Kilometers (Blue- the ranger post)
For all the GPS points see the Appendix, maps 4-5.
The ground survey produced a sorrowful status of north Maramagambo Forest. There
is an illegal activity (see appendix Pic 2) and there are many "windows" in the canopy
allowing the sun rays to penetrate and therefor there is a lot of bushes among the old
trees, young plantation and sun light on the forest floor (see appendix Pic. 3), resulting
in absence of continuous canopy and absence of open area among the tree's trunks.
The short time (3 days) should be considered as a limiting factor to get the complete
picture of the forest but it is a warning sign for the status of north Maramagambo
Forest.
Together with my experience with Semuliki N.P. (see my Progress reports November
2015, April 2017 and August 2019) and my article about the Okapi (Sever,20211
) it
might be concluded, that there are no expected okapis in North Maramagambo Forest,
therefore we did not used the camera traps in this forest.
1. Sever Z. 2021. Searching for the okapi (Okapia johnstoni) in Semuliki National
Park, Uganda. Afr. J. Ecol. 59: 286–292. https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.12796
Appendix
Please find presented the next data:

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November 2022
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Pictures
Pic 1 – The team
From left: Mr. Meize-the local guide, Dr. Zvi Sever, Mr. Simon Pitter and
Mr. Jimmy- soldiers, Mr. Gavi- a ranger.
Pic 2 – Illegal camp of illegal fishermen.
2a. There was a food
2b. Salting evidences.

4. Final report of findings to the Monitoring & Research unit of the UWA,
November 2022
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Pic 3 – Absence of continuous canopy and a lot of young plantation and sun light on
the forest floor
Maps
Map 1 – Maramagambo Forest in QENP's Map (Tourists Map)
Nyamusingiri Ranger
Post

5. Final report of findings to the Monitoring & Research unit of the UWA,
November 2022
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Map 2 – Maramagambo Forest & Location Map (Fig. H1.1 from Howard et all,
19911
)
Map 3 - See next page
North
M.
North
M.

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November 2022
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Map 3 – Plant's map of Maramagambo Forest (Fig. H1 from Howard et all, 19911
)
1- Howard, P.C. (Ed.). 1991. Nature Conservation in Uganda's Tropical Forest
Reserves. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. Xvii. 313 pp. See
Appendix H. Profile of the Kalinzu/Maramagambo Forest Reserve, p. 200-214.

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Map 4 – The GPS points on Google earth map (Blue- the ranger post) with Kalinzu
forest reserve in South East.
Map 5 – The GPS points on Google earth map (Blue- the ranger post) with Lake
Edouard in the West and Kyambura game reserve and Lake George in the
North East.