MPs meet local leaders over stray animals

EASTERN PROVINCE RWAMAGANA — Legislators on the Parliamentary commission on Agriculture on Monday met provincial leaders in an attempt to address the problem of wild animal’s which stray from the Akagera National Park. The meeting was convened following numerous complaints that strayanimals destroyed crops belonging to residents neighbouring the park thus posing a security threat to them, according to local leaders who attended the meeting in Rwamagana district. The meeting was attended by among others, the Provincial Governor, Dr Ephraim Kabayija, representatives of security agencies, Mayors of Kayonza, Gatsibo, and Nyagatare districts, and representatives of the Rwanda Tourism Board. At the meeting, it was reported that a number of park residents had previously been attacked and killed by the straying animals. All the Mayors present said that apart from being a security threat and destroying people’s crops worth millions of Francs, the animals spread diseases to domestic animals. The Mayors added that some residents are traumatised due to constant fear of being attacked by the animals. MP Adolphe Bazatoha who was flanked by MPs Desire Nyandwi, Connie Bwiza Sekamana, and Judith Kanakuze, said some of the problems they discovered would need immediate attention. Meanwhile, Rwanda Tourism Board has stepped up efforts to curb increasing cases of domestication of wild animals and birds in order to promote tourism in the area. Ends