(Posted 29th July 2024)
We are thrilled to present the second newsletter of 2024! Following the refreshing rains of March, April, and May, we have welcomed the long dry season which usually spans between June and September! This edition highlights the activities taking place at Akagera National Park between May to July 2024.
Olmoti and calf. Akagera National Park is excited to announce the birth of a second eastern black rhino calf this year, born to Olmoti (mother) and Mandela (father), two of the five black rhinos that were relocated from European zoos to Akagera in June 2019. Olmoti originally comes from Flamingo Land Zoo in the UK, while Mandela is from Ree Park Safari in Denmark. The calf was confirmed to be a male and he and his mother are both healthy.
Prescribed fires. In June, our teams from the Field Operations Department, in collaboration with the Biodiversity Conservation team, have been diligently engaged in prescribed burning activities. The primary objective of these controlled burns is to establish fire breaks— sections of land that are intentionally burned around critical infrastructure such as campsites, reception areas, fencing, and office buildings. These fire breaks serve as a protective barrier to safeguard infrastructure and personnel from potential wildfires that may arise later in the season.
In addition, larger areas within the park have also undergone a process known as Block Burning. This method involves selecting strategic locations for initiating fires intended to burn to reduce biomass accumulated during rain seasons. The block burn fire burns slowly often self-extinguishing by nightfall, minimizing risks associated with uncontrolled burns. The prescribed burning program has continued into July to complete the remaining areas not addressed in June.
Fire is an integral part of the savannah ecosystem, contributing to nutrient cycling, reducing disease, and preventing hot, damaging fires; these ongoing efforts underscore our commitment to enhancing fire management practices while promoting biodiversity conservation within the park.
Leopard Survey. Based on images obtained from a comprehensive park-wide survey utilizing camera trap technology, a total of 54 individual leopards have been identified within Akagera National Park. This survey plays a crucial role in assisting park management by providing valuable insights into the abundance and density of leopards in the area. The information gathered will contribute significantly to the development of future management plans aimed at ensuring the conservation and sustainability of this species within the park.
Akagera Tourism continues to be on the rise. In comparison to the figures from the first half of 2023 and those of 2024, the park’s tourism revenue has shown a 6% increase, matched by a 22% rise in visitor numbers. Notable among the top ten nationalities that visited Akagera in the past six months are Rwanda, the USA, France, Belgium, Germany, Canada, the United Kingdom, Nigeria, the Netherlands, and India. It is noteworthy that over 50% of all visitors are Rwandans.
Akagera guidebook in French To our esteemed French-speaking visitors, we are pleased to announce the availability of our guidebook in French. This new edition complements our existing guidebook in English, providing a comprehensive resource for all our French-speaking guests. Copies of the French guidebook can be purchased at the shops located within our visitor centres situated at both the south entrance and the north exit.
School visits in 2024.
In May and June, over 2000 students and 300 teachers visited the park for environmental education. The goal was to educate the children about conservation efforts, the ecosystem, and its interactions. After the visits, students were encouraged to join eco-clubs, and teachers received training to support the children’s interest in conservation efforts.
Furthermore, 3794 students from Rwanda and other regions have benefitted from our academic discounts that offer discounts of up to 50% on park entry fees.
Lion Cup football competition, Radio broadcasts and anti-poaching campaigns
For the past ten years, Akagera has been organizing the Lion Cup football competition as part of the environmental education programs. We aim to bring entertainment targeting to reach as many community members as possible to convey the conservation message as well as emphasize the importance of Akagera National Park to locals. Football is one of the most popular sports in Rwanda. The Lions Cup gathers many people and by attendance in the last couple of matches, we expect to have over 20,000 fans in total who will attend the matches across the nine sectors that border with the park.
Other awareness opportunities included five radio broadcasts on the local radios and 26 physical meetings that were attended by 1706 locals in May and June. Meetings also involve anti-poaching campaigns that discuss conservation issues with local leaders and people around the park. The primary objective of these campaigns is to raise awareness about the importance of conservation within the park and to educate local communities about the detrimental effects of poaching on wildlife populations and ecosystems. The measure of success is to eliminate poaching and transform poachers into conservationists who will partner with the park to transform others.
Capacity building for beekeeper cooperatives. From May 1, 2024, to July 31, 2024, there is an ongoing beekeeping training organized by the park management for five local cooperatives in Kayonza District and Gatsibo District. The training aims to build the capacity and hands-on skills of cooperative members and to increase honey production.
Single-use plastic items are banned in Akagera. From June 1, 2024, single-use plastic items such as drink bottles, straws, food wrappers, bags, cutlery, cups, plates, bottle caps, lids, cigarette butts, and single-use plastic takeaway containers are banned in Akagera National Park. We would like to express our gratitude to everyone who supported this policy and continue to encourage all visitors to avoid using single-use plastics when visiting Akagera.
Interesting Sightings
Mating Leopards at Birengero Loop! This breathtaking moment was shared by our friend Mihir Max Bhatt who captured the essence of nature’s romance in action.
Lions Feasting on a Giraffe! During our annual environmental education program, community students were fortunate enough to witness lions feeding on a giraffe they had just taken down in the northern section of the park. This thrilling encounter was shared by Pacifique Sugira, Akagera’s Community Liaison Officer operating in the central area adjacent to the park.
A Heartwarming Black Rhino Sighting of a mother black rhino with her adorable calf! Our friend Keyvan Amigh was lucky enough to spot this dynamic duo.
The Elusive Honey Badger was spotted by Fabrice a regular visitor and skilled driver guide.
A Mysterious Spider Encounter of a tropical wolf spider/wandering spider (Piloctenus spp)! While this spider belongs to the Ctenidae family, its specific species remains unidentified. Our dedicated research team is currently collaborating with experts from the Tervuren Museum in Belgium for species identification.
That’s all for now, please feel free to get in touch with us if you have any questions or comments. Until next time we look forward to keeping you updated through our social media pages Facebook Friends of Akagera National Park, @AkageraPark X (formerly Twitter) and @akagera.park Instagram.
