Akagera park to reintroduce rhinos

Game lovers will soon have more options to look up to when they visit Akagera National Park once a deal to re-introduce the Black Rhino materialises. The deal to bring in the rhinoceros is part of conservation and tourism efforts being carried out by Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and African Parks, the group that runs Akagera National Park, with support from the Netherlands. The Dutch government will contribute Euro 200,000 to the project. Black Rhinos last thrived in the 1960s to 1970s with a population of 50 animals, but later almost entirely disappeared due to wide-scale poaching in the early 1980s. The Black Rhinos are available for sale at Thaba Tholo, a 36,000-hectare game farm situated in the Limpopo Province of South Africa, and presently are priced at $100, 000 for a female and $30, 000 for a male. African Parks is looking to introduce 10 or 20 Rhinos (7/15 females and 3/5 males) to the Park as a safe-haven for the population to grow and flourish, and hopefully become a future source to restock other secure parks in East Africa. Through video-teleconferencing, the Chief Executive of RDB, Francis Gatare, expressed his gratitude to the Dutch government and African Parks. He said efforts to re-introduce seven lions to Akagera last July was a resounding success and raised Akagera’s status among international conservation platforms. “Six years ago, Akagera came under a management partnership between the government of Rwanda and the conservation not-for-profit organisation, African Parks Network. Since that time, Akagera has gone from strength to strength. Tourism numbers have doubled to over 30,000 visitors in 2015,” Gatare said. He said the park-earned revenue has increased six-fold, raking in more than $1.2 million last year. “According to wildlife census, animal numbers have almost doubled in the period. Successes in significantly reducing poaching and illegal activities as well as increasing community engagement and participation are helping Akagera become a leader in the conservation field,” Gatare said. He also pointed out another significant element about Akagera – local visitors. More Rwandans visiting parks More than 50 per cent of the parks visitors last year were nationals, he said, showing the extent to which Rwandans are more mindful about conservation. The development is said to be a move that will restore Akagera’s status as a ‘Big 5’ park which also boats of almost 500 bird species. Black rhinos are to be reintroduced in Rwanda. (Net photo). Akagera, a savannah park is reportedly the largest protected wetland in Central Africa and, Rwanda’s last remaining refuge for savannah species such as elephants, buffaloes, zebras, and antelopes. There are over 8, 000 large mammals living in the park today, including a herd of about 90 elephants and it is an important bird area with nearly 500 species – attributes which make Akagera one of the most scenic parks in Africa. Since 2010 African Parks and the RDB agreed to jointly manage the Park - for an initial term of 20 years, with an option of renewing for a further 20 years – through the formation of Akagera Management Company (AMC). The goal of this partnership includes restoring, developing and managing the park as a functioning savannah ecosystem through biodiversity rehabilitation, sound conservation practices and tourism development. For this to happen, the parties acknowledge that Akagera must become financially self-sustainable. Much of the development in the past five years was geared towards increasing tourism in order to increase park-earned revenue. Amb. Jean Pierre Karabaranga, Rwandan ambassador to the Netherlands, also thanked the Dutch Government and African Parks for supporting the various initiatives they undertook to ensure that wildlife has a future in Rwanda. “The future of wildlife is in our hands and the Government of Rwanda is playing a role in wildlife protection and has demonstrated a strong commitment towards the success of conservation in Rwanda,” Amb. Karabaranga said, adding that the government has the will and conviction for conservation to succeed in Rwanda. African Parks manages 10 parks in seven African countries, including DR Congo, Malawi, Rwanda and Zambia. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Akagera park to reintroduce rhinos