Rwanda Development Board (RDB) will next year import Rhinos and Lions from South Africa as away of restocking the Akagera National Park’s wild life population.

Akagera’s declining wildlife population is attributed to widespread poaching, especially during 1980s and 1990s.

Speaking to The New Times, yesterday, Rica Rwigamba, the Head of the Department in charge of Tourism at RDB, said that the preparations for the restocking exercise were in high gear.

"There is definitely a restocking plan for some identified species, like Lions and Rhinos in the Akagera National Park. The idea is to boost the park’s tourism potential, and this will increase Rwanda’s competitiveness in the East African region,” she stated. She could, however, not divulge more details of the restocking programme.

"At the moment we do not have precise details in terms of the funding needed, especially since we intend to embark on the exercise before the end of next year,” she explained.

She noted that, currently, there is only one Rhino in Akagera Park, which they have been keeping an eye on, with a monitoring device.

Akagera National Park is the country’s famous Savanna animal sanctuary with a wide- range of game that include buffalos, elephants, zebras, giraffes, hippos, and antelopes, among others.

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