Elephants Return to Uganda’s Mount Elgon

The Mount Elgon Foundation reports a herd of elephants crossed into the Ugandan side of Mount Elgon National Park, returning to an area they largely abandoned since the 1970s. Monitoring with tracking collars revealed at least 60 elephants crossed from Kenya in the last year. The Uganda Wildlife Authority views this as evidence that forest restoration efforts are succeeding after decades of habitat degradation and poaching.

Residents of Bukwo district note elephants damaged crops in 2025, but rangers have prevented further incidents this year. Community members have asked for compensation for past losses and propose solutions like electric fences. The Uganda Wildlife Authority plans to train farmers to grow less appealing crops and hopes the elephants will draw tourists to the region.

Though the mountain’s forests are regenerating, balancing wildlife recovery with community safety and livelihoods remains a key challenge. The work to fully restore the ecosystem and ensure peaceful coexistence continues.