ABSTRACT
To contextualise the findings about the Rubondo chimpanzees, this chapter provides an overview on habitat features they have to negotiate, particularly its island character, climate, vegetation cover, sympatric fauna and human impact. It examines the abiotic factors such as terrain and topography, precipitation and temperature as well as biotic factors such as plant phenology and coexisting wildlife that constitute a baseline against which patterns of ranging, foraging and night nests construction. Rubondo in its well-protected offshore location, stands out as one of the rare habitats almost unaffected by the destructive anthropogenic activities that are increasingly shaping the globe. Rubondo Island National Park, gazetted in 1977, is located in the south-western corner of Lake Victoria, Tanzania. Rubondo creates a financial deficit. This minus means that biodiversity conservation comes at a price. But, collateral benefits may be more difficult to measure – such as the reputational gain for Tanzania.
