By Stanley Ebele
KOTIDO, UGANDA: Nestled amidst the rugged rocks of Rengen Sub-county in Kotido district, the ordinary village of Lokatap, with an estimated population of over 2,000 people, offers a remarkable illustration of human-wildlife coexistence.
Here at Lokatap village, the wild hyraxes have become an integral, and surprisingly tame, part of daily life-climbing onto rooftops to sunbathe, darting across busy paths, and even occasionally sharing a porch step with the local residents unlike most wild animals, which keep a cautious distance from human settlements.
This extraordinary coexistence challenges conventional models of human-wildlife conflict and has drawn the attention of biologists seeking to understand how this seemingly fragile truce has lasted for generations.
For most visitors, the first surprise is identifying the animal itself, the hyraxes look like a stout guinea pig or a tailless marmot, weighing around four kilograms.
The second, more astonishing discovery, is its lineage genetically, the hyraxes’ closest living relatives are manatees and the African elephant.
With only one entrance to the rock, which is about 400 to 500 meters away from the community’s common man’s area, Lokatap rock has a somewhat flat, ragged top with rock crevices, allowing the hyraxes to escape from predators.
To get to the slanting rock that lies about 5-6 feet high, one must maneuver through the packed homesteads, threaded with wooden fences or pure thorns, packed closely to one another leaving almost no space for farming or rearing within.
The entry maneuvers through a tiny footpath until the base of the rock where one begins stepping upwards to climb it.
Every day, the elders, men, women, and children from this community (Ngitapana) come out of their homesteads to settle under trees at the entrance to the rock, also the main access to their homesteads.
This is the common man’s corner. On a typical day, the women discuss household chores, while others prepare food. Men and elders, on the other hand, discuss the fortunes and survival of hyraxes during dry spells.
Sometimes the men come here to lead a passive life, calling it resting or socializing if you want.
Tracing history of hyraxes in Lokapat Village
These rock hyraxes have inhabited this village as early as the time of migrations of ethnicities in the 19th century.
“They are our shadow,” explains John Kapel, 55, a village elder whose home backs onto a rocky hill, the hyraxes’ primary habitat. “We grew up with the sounds of their chirps and cries. If they are silent, something is wrong with the land.”
He said that for centuries, villagers have maintained a strict, unspoken law: the hyraxes are not to be hunted, harmed, or overly stressed. This protective stance is partly pragmatic, hyraxes are known to deter snakes and partly spiritual, viewed as indicators of environmental health.
“It’s just how things are here,” explained an 55-year-old Zakaria Namerikaliye Lote, as a small group of hyrax meticulously forages for leaves in her backyard, seemingly unfazed by her presence. “They were here long before us, and they carry on with their lives, and we carry on with ours. We respect their space, and they respect ours.”
Namerikaliye explains that their great-grandfather Apaloyelet Lokelo brought a pair of these animals long ago, and they have stood out as forbidden animals for decades.
“This respect is key, she reports no significant issues with crop depredation or property damage that might typically arise from such close proximity to wildlife.
Namerikaliye added that minor inconveniences, such as occasional burrowing near foundations or a nibbled attractive plant, are generally accepted as part of living in harmony with nature”.
Zakaria told this website that hunting or harming the hyrax is culturally taboo, rooted in a generations-old understanding of their place within the local ecosystem.
“Here, it’s considered a taboo to kill, beat, or eat them. It’s believed that if one kills a rock hyrax, they must kill a bull to cleanse themselves or they will face repercussions which include strange illnesses, death, and misfortune.”
He said that “the hyrax, known for their distinctive alarm calls and social behaviors, add a unique dimension to the village’s soundscape and visual charm”.
“Children grow up familiar with their presence, learning early lessons in environmental stewardship and the importance of respecting wild creatures. This early exposure fosters a natural appreciation rather than fear or disdain,” explained Zakaria.
Lokatap rock has good plant cover. It has rare species of tropical trees and a growing canopy beneath. This is the feed for these animals. They eat leaves of these trees as well as leafy vegetation.
Carolyn Nakong, a 35-year-old woman, told me that this area is a reserve for conservation.
“This area measuring about 200 hectares is reserved for the conservation of the hyraxes. No farming is allowed inside this area, no roads in this area, except a tiny footpath leading them to farms about 4 kilometers away,” she said.
During the rainy season, they get water from the rock. There is also a water valley constructed way back by a development partner to help animals and the people access water.
There is a manmade valley behind the rock adjacent to their grazing fields, which are maintained naturally.
But she said the main challenge is the scarcity of water for both the community and these animals during the dry seasons, which span from October to late March.
She narrates that during this lean season, a high number of the animals die from terminal dehydration.
Tourism: the living asset
Perched on sun-baked rocks, seemingly inconspicuous, the rock hyraxes have long been a familiar sight across the arid landscapes of Southern and East Africa.
But for a growing number of local communities, these small, rabbit-sized mammals are proving to be more than just a charismatic part of the ecosystem; they are an unexpected source of income, yielding what some are calling “hyraxes gold.”
While not directly hunted for their meat or fur due to conservation efforts and ethical considerations, the entrepreneurial spirit of locals has found ingenious ways to derive economic benefit from the hyraxes, primarily through the growing eco-tourism industry.
Beyond their unique excretions, rock hyraxes draw tourists, creating a secondary wave of economic upliftment. Often found in proximity to human settlements, their omnipresent presence makes them accessible for wildlife viewing.
According to Longok Logira, another resident of this place, they charge local tourists between Shs50, 000 and Shs200, 000 or more to see the rock hyraxes and ask questions about the animals.
On average Longok said they receive domestic tourists mainly from the districts of Kotido, Abim and Kaabong, thrice a month.
The money they collect from the domestic tourists is spent on foods given the food insecurity in the area and “Ebutia”, the local brew made of sorghum.
Choosing to visit Lokatap village ensures domestic tourists witness both the rocks and the guardians of the rocks, creating experiences that linger long after the journey ends.
On the other hand, the rock hyraxes are a source of luck to the community because they’re believed to cast rainfall, ensure good harvests, and bring other fortunes, which have helped the community to conserve both for tourism and prosperity.
The pest problem and economic conflict
Francis Lowak Lopeyok, one of the area youths said that hyrax are voracious grazers and opportunistic feeders. Their diet of leaves, grass, and fruits often expands to include high-value crops like maize, beans, and sweet potatoes.
He noted that while elephants cause dramatic, visible damage, the cumulative effect of hundreds of hyrax raids is just as devastating for subsistence farmers.
Unlike a rhino, which might require a million dollars in anti-poaching funding, the hyraxes is often dismissed as a common pest,” Lopeyok explains. “But these communities bear the economic brunt directly. They are protecting the animals that actively undermines their livelihood security.”
Despite the obstacles, he said Lokatap community is not giving up in their conservation efforts.
Appeal to government
In an unconventional yet passionate plea, Lopeyok is urging the government to invest in developing a unique tourist attraction site centered around an often-overlooked local inhabitant, the hyraxes.
He believes that a dedicated “Hyraxes Haven” could draw niche tourists, bolster the sub-county’s economy, and raise awareness about these fascinating, small mammals that are distantly related to elephants.
“For too long, the humble rock hyraxes have lived in the shadows, overshadowed by Uganda’s ‘Big Five”, which include Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Rhinoceros, and Cape buffalo”, stated Lopeyok.
He further explained establishing “Hyrax Haven” in the area would be low-impact and eco-friendly, focusing on preserving the natural habitat while enhancing visitor experience.
Lopeyok believe it could also serve as a model for community-led conservation efforts.
What Sub-County leadership says?
When contacted Elijah Lokoribok, the LCIII chairperson of Rengen Sub-county said that the plans to fast-track the tourism potential of the Lokatap rock, where the hyraxes live.
He said that after ascertaining its full tourism potential, the would submit the report to the office of the district tourism officer for further guidance on who to develop it into a tourist site.
However, Lokoribok is pessimistic that traditional beliefs among the residents might hinder the move.
He added that “The sub-county leadership would engage the community to adapt public-private partnership to boost local tourism, raise revenue, and channel benefits to the community.
Future plans
When contacted, Martin Oryem, the Assistant Community Warden for Conservation in the Kidepo Valley Conservation Area, told this website that Lokatap Rock, which is home to hyraxes, is one of the conservation areas planned for development under the 2017-2027, Matheniko and Bokora Wildlife Reserves work plan.
He revealed that the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) gave Rengen Sub-county Shs20 million in 2017, for the construction of a pit latrine and a shelter for visitors.
As conservation efforts increasingly focus on holistic approaches, understanding and appreciating the role of species like the rock hyraxes is paramount.
While they may not command the same attention as elephants or lions, these small mammals are undeniably vital to the health and resilience of the landscapes they call home.
Their ongoing presence and activity are a testament to their quiet but crucial ecological contributions, reminding us that even the smallest creatures can have the biggest impact.
Additional reporting by Okori Alexander Mackey
