Wildlife species of Mountain Elgon National Park

Wildlife species of Mountain Elgon National Park- The park is a man and biosphere reserve located in the eastern part of Uganda at the border with Kenya. The park is located in the districts of Mbale, Bududa, Manafwa, Kapchorwa, Sironko, and Suam. Inside the park, there is a 4321-meter mountain Elgon which is an extinct volcano that last erupted over 24 million years ago.

Mountain Elgon features the largest caldera in the whole world which measures about 40km2. It is because of the vulcanicity activity that forced magma from deep inside the earth’s surface that later led to the collapse of the cone. Its believed that mountain Elgon was the highest in Africa but due to erosion forces, the size and height were reduced to 4321meters making it the 4^th highest in East Africa.

Mountain Elgon features volcanic soils that have facilitated the growth of variable vegetation types on alternate altitudes. The different vegetation types include montane forests, bamboo forests, basically on higher altitudes, and the alpine moorland.

Animal species in Mountain Elgon National Park

Wildlife species include big mammals such as buffaloes, forest elephants tour to the park. Other animals here include bushbuck, Defassa silverback, Oribi, hyena, black and white colobus monkeys, red and blue-tailed monkeys.

Plants and bird species in Mount Elgon National Park

Mountain Elgon National park is one of the best birding destination in Uganda. The park harbors over 300 bird species that inhabit the different vegetation zones surrounding the park. Some of the bird species include African blue flycatcher, endangered lammergeyer, crown hornbills, Chubbs Cisticola, Crowned Hornbills among others. The park also harbors half of Uganda’s butterfly species including the endangered Mathais Long leg dragonfly.