Just After the brutal Rwanda genocide in 1994 against the Tutsi-people, several thousands of refugees returned from exile many with extended families some had become farmers while others had become pastoralists. This led to scarcity of land for cattle rearing as well as cultivation. For one to acquire a piece of land at that time it would be after a very big struggle. At the time, Land grabbing was very common and only those who were ‘rich’ could get some land whereas the poor were left to suffer. The desire to attain land increased among the people not until the Rwandan government intervened. It did so through cutting-off a big area of Akagera national park and offering it to the people for agriculture. The previously large 2500 sq km national park was reduced to just 1200 sq km only.
The people who had settled around the park began poaching the animals within the park and in defense, the lions vigorously fought back to defend their territory. Before long, the animals would move into the people’s farms and attack their cattle and other domesticated animals. In response, the cattle keepers waged a big war against these lions as well.
The more attacks the people made on the lions, the more cattle these lions also attacked. However the cattle keepers decided to take on a more deadly measure by poisoning carcass so as to fast kill the seemingly then problematic lions. Thkis actually worked on their side, however on the side of wild conservation, it was all bad news. Large prides of lions died drastically reducing the number of lions. By 2000,there weren’t any more lions surviving within Akagera National Park.
According to the Park Managers Jes Gruner, Akagera’s ecosystem equation at the time could not balance as the wildlife population had reduced to just one third.
The Re-introduction of Lions in Akagera
Majority of the tourists who took game drives in the park during their Safari in Rwanda would express their dissatisfaction of not seeing the king of the jungle during their adventure in the park. This triggered a plan by the Rwandan government to import lions all the way from South Africa in order to breed them within this park; unfortunately, this plan did not come to pass.
Later, the government was able to import 7 lions from Kenya in the bid to re-introduce them.
Conservation of Lions within Akagera
Since 2010, the management of Akagera national Park was transferred into the hands of African Parks – a wildlife conservation organization having great experience rehabilitating different wild areas on the African continent, and their sole purpose to restore the population of wildlife, park infrastructure as well as boost its tourism potential. Fortunately before long, these lions reproduced, their number increased and they are thriving thanks to great diversity of prey including about 2500 buffaloes, zebras and different antelope species.
How has the Rwandan government Protect the wildlife within Akagera NP?
The extinction of the lions gave buffaloes, antelopes, zebras, and other herbivores freedom to move and even graze in farmers’ plantations. Farmers started killing countless animals.
In 2010 The government installed a towering electric fence over a 110km area and this cost the tax payer about 4 million US dollars (Approximately Rwf2.7 billion).
They have deployed a large number if well equipped and professionally trained rangers to protect the park, and this has greatly limited any chances of having poachers infiltrate the park.
Strict rules have been put in place and these will be imposed on any one who kills any animals. This offence is punishable by 6 months – 2 years sentence in jail or a fine ranging from $500 to $2900 (Rwf300, 000 to Rwf2, 000, 000).
Then injuring or selling any of the country’s endangered species including the mountain gorillas which are the leading tourist attraction of Rwanda results into a jail sentence of 5 – 10 years or a cash fine of Rwf500,000 to Rwf5,000,000 ($725 to ($7,600).
So as you plan your holiday to Afrca, don’t miss out on seeing the lion – King of the Jungle in Akagera National Park.
For more information about the Akagera Wildlife, visit gorillasafarirwanda.com
