KAYONZA – In a bid to end human-wildlife conflicts around Akagera Nationa Park, Rwanda Development Board (RDB), yesterday started guiding stray animals behind the new electric fence.RDB conducted the exercise jointly with Park management and Police, to safely push the animals back to the secured enclosure.The fence has 2.5 meters high metallic mesh crossed by three horizontally electrified cables, which will run a distance of 110 kilometres.“Animals and people alike feel the electricity in a distance and keep away.The Park will also be saved from encroachers,” said RDB officials.The operation that is backed by a helicopter started in the sectors of Mwiri and Murundi, and will be mainly pushing back stray buffalos.According to Telesphore Ngoga, RDB Conservation Division Manager, the exercise was long overdue.He told The New Times that the exercise would take several days, adding that it would be carried out in phases.“We are using noise of all kind to send back animals inside the back. The helicopter is doing a commendable job in provision of required noise, guidance and location of animals,” he said.Philbert Munyensanga the Executive Secretary of Mwiri Sector, said that residents of the area were pleased with the exercise that would see them keep distance from the animals.He said that a big number of people had their crops and property destroyed, and waited to be compensated.“Crops for two seasons were destroyed by the animals. Residents demand compensation of about Rwf51 million. Some crops like bananas couldn’t be grown due to the animals, so the development is good news,” he said.
