Kenyan conservationist Jim Justus Nyamu, on Friday, September 29, kicked off a 12-day Elephant Conservation Education and Awareness Walk across Rwanda, from the Kagitumba Border Post in Nyagatare District to Rubavu District, according to Rwanda Development Board (RDB).

The walk that started in Kenya and will conclude in Goma, DR Congo, aims to raise awareness of elephant conservation and protection among communities.

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Nyamu is a Kenyan elephant research scientist and activist against poaching and trade in ivory. He is executive director at the Elephant Neighbors Center (ENC) - a grass-roots collaborative and participatory research organisation focused on enhancing the capacity of communities living with wildlife to promote interlinkages between species and their habitats.

He is also the leader and founder of the movement "Ivory Belongs to Elephants,” which advocates for the prohibition of ivory tusk smuggling, protection of elephants and the preservation of their environments.

"Your walk-through Rwanda is a valuable opportunity to raise awareness about elephant conservation and to inspire Rwandans to take action to protect these magnificent creatures. We are grateful for your partnership and look forward to working with you to ensure the long-term survival of elephants in Rwanda and across Africa," said the Head of Rwanda National Parks Management, Eugene Mutangana, while referring to Nyamu’s walk.

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It is expected that during his time in Rwanda, Nyamu will also participate in activities including the monthly community work, Umuganda, tree planting to restore and sustain elephant habitats, and visiting Akagera National Park which is home to over 130 elephants, as well as engaging with players in wildlife conservation, as per information from RDB.

The Elephant is one of the Big 5 animals available in Rwanda’s Akagera National Park, others being the lion, leopard, rhinoceros, and buffalo.

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Each year, at least 20,000 African elephants are illegally killed for their tusks, suggest estimates from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), whose work focuses on endangered species conservation.

The WWF indicates that a decade-long resurgence in demand for elephant ivory, particularly in parts of Asia, has fueled a rampant poaching epidemic.

Elephant ivory trade not only threatens the very survival of this iconic species and causes broader ecological consequences, but also endangers the lives and livelihoods of local people and undermines national and regional security.