Residents in the Umuvumba Valley in Uwinkiko Village, Rwempasha Sector, Nyagatare District, on Saturday, June, 17, woke up to find 10 dead grey cranes on a rice farm of one of the residents.

After news of the dead birds reached the authorities, conservation officials visited the place on Sunday, a move that culminated into the arrest of Jean Marie Vianney Sindikubwabo, a man suspected of poisoning the birds.

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Reports say Sindikubwabo was found with six dead grey cranes in his possession. Residents say he is known for possessing corn seeds treated with &039;Kalo' – a toxic substance that can kill animals and birds.

"We were on patrol and received a call from a rice farmer called Muyango, regarding a culprit who killed grey-crowned cranes. When we arrived, we found out that he had packed six dead cranes in his bag; we later discovered the other four in a nearby area," said Venuste Shumbusho, a local official patrol officer in Nyagatare District.

Unlike other farmers in the region who cultivate rice, Sindikubwabo's activities focus on hunting various bird species, including grey cranes, for sale according to residents.

The Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Association (RWCA) Deputy Director, Dr. Deo Ruhagazi, said an investigation will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death of the birds.

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Ruhagazi also warned the public against consuming meat from animals that have died under suspicious circumstances, citing potential health risks. He urged the community to work together in preserving the ecosystem.

"Grey crowned cranes contribute to farming practices because they feed on pests which are harmful to crops, it is everyone’s responsibility in conserving the ecosystem and protecting the grey crowned cranes, we continue to urge residents to provide information so that we can conserve the ecosystem and act accordingly if an issue arises,” he noted.

The latest census of grey crowned cranes according to Dr Ruhagazi conducted by the Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Association (RWCA) in 2023, showed that there are 1,216 grey crowned cranes in the country; with 370 in Nyagatare District.

Authorities continue to investigate and urge the public to report any suspicious activities that may threaten the delicate balance of the ecosystem.

Dr. Richard Muvunyi, Head of Wildlife Veterinary Unit, Research and Monitoring at Rwanda Development Board (RDB), emphasised the importance of community cooperation with authorities.

He reminded citizens that it is their duty to protect wildlife and report any threats to the agencies and reminded the community that it is punishable by law to endanger animals.

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"No citizen is allowed to kill such species. It is their responsibility to preserve the animals and show them to the authorities in case the animal is a threat to the people," he said.

The legal framework in Rwanda strictly prohibits harm to wildlife. Law n° 064/2021 of 14/10/2021 which regulates the ecosystem stipulates that any individual who harms, removes, or commits a crime against an animal will face imprisonment of six months to two years and a fine ranging from Rwf 500,000 to one million Rwandan francs.

The Ministry of Environment has in the past created crane sanctuaries and one of them ‘Umusambi Village’ is located in the City of Kigali has been reserved to protect the Grey Crowned Crane population.