Elgon Wildlife Conservation Organization (EWCO) is the first and only NGO that is dedicated to promoting Amphibian conservation and research in Uganda. EWCO encourages the conservation of the amphibians, their natural ecosystems and implements positive change in human attitudes towards the amphibian and reptilian diversity through integrated programs of;

 CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECT

The amphibian count in Uganda is a Citizen Science Program to map and track the amphibian diversity distributions across Uganda’s protected areas. Participants will learn how to find and identify amphibians and reptiles to help scientists identify conservation concerns for the amphibian and reptilians.

COMMUNITY CONSERVATION   ACTION

EWCO is promoting community-based conservation by empowering and providing tools to communities adjacent to amphibian habitats and the public to help promote amphibian conservation in their communities. Thus, creating healthier ecosystems and increased awareness of the issues amphibians, and other wildlife faces in our rapidly developing world.

CONSERVATION EDUCATION OUTREACH

EWCO is dedicated to providing amphibian presentations, radio talks, and other educational programs to the public and schools in communities where we work. These programs are the hallmark of our initiative to change human perceptions about amphibians.

AMPHIBIAN HABITAT PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION

Elgon Wildlife Conservation Organization seeks out opportunities to leverage its conservation impact by identifying and protecting landscapes of high ecological integrity with high snake and frog species diversity.

IN SITU AMPHIBIAN CONSERVATION

EWCO is actively conducting in situ conservation projects to increase the diversity and abundance of flora and fauna native to Uganda.

Latest work

Project title. Assessing distribution of Red listed frog species  to guide the establishment of the first ex situ supporting program for Uganda’s vanishing frog species

Leptopelis karissimbensis is a frog species in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in South-western Uganda. The species is currently listed as Vulnerable (VU B1ab-iii)) under the IUCN Red List (IUCN 2016). Together with other amphibians, they are vulnerable species in Uganda, dealing with massive population declines due to habitat loss, introduced species, and fungal diseases, logging, charcoal burning and use of agrochemicals.

EWCO is working to establish the first ex situ supporting program for Uganda’s vulnerable and vanishing frog species and attempting ex situ breeding of the species to maintain genetically viable populations that can eventually be reintroduced to their natural habitats.

In-situ conservation plans include surveying to confirm the actual distribution of the species as adults and tadpoles, monitoring of known populations, enforcing habitat protection measures and training for forest rangers, and the local community in the identification and conservation exercises through citizen science and conservation education programs.

Specifically, the project  seeks to:

  • Promote the conservation of rare, threatened and restricted-range species of amphibians
  • Generate and provide information for monitoring and conservation of amphibian diversity and the habitats
  • Carry out surveys to determine the diversity and status of amphibians in Uganda.