New statistics from data collected in 2009 and 2010 show that among several major species population sizes more than doubled since 1999, when the previous census was conducted.

"We've been able to reduce poaching by offering increased benefits to the local communities, more ways for them to share in money that comes from wildlife," Uganda Wildlife Authority spokeswoman Lillian Nsubuga said.

While the increases are evident nationwide, Nsubuga said the expulsion of Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebels from northern Uganda largely led to animal population surges in Murchison Falls National Park.

Much of Murchison Falls, one of Uganda's most popular tourist destination, falls within Gulu district, the epicentre of the LRA war, and wildlife officials were largely unable to control poaching during the conflict.

Gulu has been free of LRA violence for more than four years and the rebels have relocated to neighbouring countries in the region.

There are now more than 11,000 buffalos in Murchison Falls, up from 3,889 in 1999, according the authority's statistics.

The Uganda kob population has increased to from 7,458 to 36,640.

Giraffe, impala, zebra and waterbuck populations all showed three-fold increases nationally.

Nsubuga attributed the rises to "good practices and improved monitoring."

"We can't say that poaching in no longer a problem, but we have been able to reduce it," she said.

earlier related report
Myanmar hails rare white elephant as sign of poll success
Bangkok (AFP) Sept 25, 2010 - Myanmar's military regime on Saturday hailed the capture of a rare white elephant as a sign of a successful "democratic transition" in the upcoming controversial elections.

Historically considered to herald good fortune, the elephant was caught on Thursday in western Rakhine state -- the fifth found since 2001 and a source of "national pride," the state-run New Light of Myanmar newspaper said.

"People are holding discussions cheerfully that the auspicious occasion coincides with the democratic transition of the nation and it is a good sign for the success of general elections," the article said.

Myanmar has been under military rule since 1962 and the November polls -- the first in two decades -- have been derided internationally as a sham, designed to shore up the regime's power under a civilian guise.

The elephant's capture came three years after a brutal crackdown on anti-government protests led by Buddhist monks, in which at least 31 people were killed and hundreds of activists detained.

The newspaper said the elephant signalled that people would "enjoy peace and stability and prosperity in the time of a new government like in the time of existing government".

More than 2,200 dissidents are being detained by the regime and barred from standing in the polls, including pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who won the last election overwhelmingly but was never allowed to take power.

Kings and leaders in Myanmar, a predominantly Buddhist country, have traditionally treasured white elephants, whose rare appearances in the country are believed to herald good fortune, including power and political change.

Two private planes for Myanmar's Senior General Than Shwe and four other top leaders were named "White Elephant" this year on the advice of astrologers, according to the Irrawaddy, a respected Thailand-based magazine on Myanmar.

Than Shwe is described by critics and some experts on the regime as deeply superstitious. A popular Yangon astrologer told the Irrawaddy that the name was not only designed to avert bad luck but also a portent to defeat enemies.

Despite its name, a white elephant is more pink than white.

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