PRIMATES, 42(2): 135-139, April 2001 135 Limb Injuries Resulting from Snares and Traps in Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) of the Budongo Forest, Uganda JOHN C. WALLER and VERNONREYNOLDS Oxford University ABSTRACT. This study involved an investigation into the causes of limb injuries among the wild chim- panzees of the Budongo Forest, Uganda. In view of the high incidence of limb injuries in this population, an attempt was made to diagnose the physiology of the diverse range of deformities observed, and to pro- vide a reliable assignment of causality. This enabled the authors to attribute l0 out of the 11 cases of limb abnormality to the wire snares and 'leg-hold traps' employed by communities living adjacent to the forest. One example of congenital deformity is described. Key Words: Chimpanzees; Limb abnormality; Pathology; Hunting pressure; Trapping of chimpanzees. INTRODUCTION Eleven of the 52 chimpanzees comprising the Sonso community of the Budongo Forest exhibit limb deformities. The aim of this study was to undertake a systematic investigation of these limb defects. The laying of snares and traps by populations living adjacent to the forest seems the most probable explanation for the majority of limb anomalies encountered. MATERIALS AND METHODS The Sonso community of chimpanzees inhabits a moist semi-deciduous forest in Western Uganda. All 52 individuals are well habituated, and identifiable. The study involved observations of individual chimpanzees exhibiting limb anomalies, and in each case a modified version of a forearm and muscle chart -- originally developed as an aid in assessing human limb injuries -- was completed. With the aid of this chart, and a series of field sketches, it was possible to delin- eate the involvement of particular tendons, muscles, nerves, and blood vessels, and for each limb produce a detailed picture of the configuration of injuries. This information provided the basis for diagnosing deformity, and assessing aetiology. In order to identify the causes of snar- ing and trapping injuries, reference was made to a study of local hunters (JOHNSON, 1993). DESCRIPTION OF THE INJURIES The injured limbs documented fall into two broad morphological categories: claw-hands and wrists, and missing digits and entire segments of limbs. Claw-hand and wrist. Six of the deformities studied are characterized by extreme flexion of the