Edinburgh Zoo

Budongo Trail is linked to the Budongo Conservation Field Station (BCFS) in Uganda, Africa.  This research and conservation station is funded by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), which owns Edinburgh Zoo and the Highland Wildlife Park. 

BCFS is engaged in the long-term study and conservation of a group of around 60 chimpanzees located in the Budongo Forest.  The project involves the study of  this endangered species in their natural habitat and the relationship between biodiversity and the local community. 

Research students from around the world are based at the site to undertake various projects over several months. The results of the research increase our understanding of chimpanzees and of the forest, and ultimately inform us as to how best to support conservation.

The Budongo Conservation Field Station is home to around 600 wild chimpanzees, as well as blue monkeys, colobus monkeys, forest baboons, duiker antelopes, bush pigs, and over 350 bird species. Budongo is a 'managed' forest with some timber extraction over the past 70 years. The effects of this upon wildlife and the relationship of the forest to local people are also being studied.

You can find out more about the work RZSS is doing with the Budongo Conservation Field Station in our Conservation and Research section's BCFS page.  To find out more about the Budongo Forest in Uganda, please visit the Budongo Conservation Field Station web site and the fascinating Budongo blog.

The Royal Zoological Society's work with the chimps of Budongo Trail and our link with BCFS make us the UK centre of expertise for primate behavioural research.