Established in 1993, Kibale National Park is a 300-square mile lush oasis in rural western Uganda. It supports the highest primate diversity and density in East Africa, including 2,000 endangered Eastern chimpanzees, more than 30 percent of Uganda's total chimpanzee population. Endangered mammals including elephants, golden cats and pangolins also find refuge in the forest, as do 375 species of birds, 250 varieties of butterfly and more 350 types of trees.

Though protected as a national park, Kibale's wildlife and critical landscapes are threatened by a rapidly growing human population and high levels of poverty, which intensify demand for fuel, land and meat, and puts people and wildlife in frequent conflict. As the area surrounding the park is mostly farmland, crop raiding by chimpanzees, forest elephants and other primates can have a significant impact on families living adjacent to the park. Tensions occur and may result in retaliatory killing.