The large mammal community of the Queen Elizabeth National Park (Uganda)

Black rhinoceros ( Diceros bicornis) not represented although it occurs elsewhere in western Uganda. The region which is now occupied by the park was once densely settled by pastoralists, which have been reduced by small pox at the end of nineteenth century, rinderpest in the 1890's and sleeping sickness at time of WW I. A game reserve was established in 1934, in 1952 the national park was declared. There are still two fishing villages and two towns within the park boundaries.