Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary is mourning the loss of one of its most iconic residents after a 28-year-old male chimpanzee, Asega, died following a severe head injury sustained at the sanctuary.
According to a statement issued by the sanctuary on Thursday, Asega was found unconscious inside the chimpanzees’ sleeping facility on Wednesday morning. Despite immediate assessment by the veterinary and animal care team, he was pronounced dead.
A preliminary post-mortem examination revealed that Asega died from blunt force trauma to the head, resulting in sudden death.
Sanctuary management believes the incident occurred during the chimpanzees’ normal morning routine. At around 6:30 a.m., a brief but heavy rainfall triggered the group’s usual energetic play, with the chimpanzees swinging from hanging tyres and climbing platforms inside the enclosure.
Caretakers suspect that Asega, renowned for his remarkable acrobatic skills, accidentally lost his footing while performing one of his signature aerial movements and struck his head on the concrete floor.
Affectionately known as “the acrobat,” Asega was admired for his extraordinary agility, often entertaining caregivers with daring flips, impressive swings, and jumps over obstacles that other chimpanzees could not navigate.
Rescued as an orphan from Arua in 1998, Asega grew into one of the sanctuary’s dominant male chimpanzees. His exceptional climbing and jumping abilities even prompted the construction of a specially reinforced high-security enclosure in 2023 for him and his close companion, Mawa.
The Chimpanzee Trust described Asega’s life as a powerful symbol of wildlife conservation, highlighting the vital role sanctuaries play in protecting rescued chimpanzees from threats such as poaching, habitat destruction, and illegal wildlife trafficking.
Speaking on behalf of the sanctuary, Communication and Marketing Officer Dorothy Basemera said Asega’s death has deeply affected staff and caregivers who had looked after him for decades.
She noted that particular concern now surrounds Mawa, Asega’s longtime companion, who is expected to feel the emotional impact of losing his closest friend.
“We are concerned about how Mawa will cope without his closest companion,” Basemera said. “Our team will support him as he adjusts by encouraging social interaction with other chimpanzees in the group.”
She added that details regarding Asega’s burial arrangements will be communicated in due course.
Located approximately 23 kilometres southwest of Entebbe on Lake Victoria, Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary was established in 1998 to provide lifelong care for chimpanzees rescued from illegal wildlife trade, habitat loss, and other human-induced threats. The sanctuary currently provides a safe home for 55 orphaned and rescued chimpanzees, offering them professional care and an environment where they can thrive.