African Parks in partnership with the Rwanda Development Board will translocate seven lions from South Africa to re-introduce the species into Akagera National Park in Rwanda by June 30, 2015.
African Parks is a non-profit organisation that takes total responsibility for the rehabilitation and long-term management of national parks in partnership with governments and local communities.
The re-introduction of lions to Rwanda is a ground-breaking conservation effort for Rwanda expected to boost the tourism sector.
According to Peter Fearnhead, CEO of African Parks the return of lions to Akagera is a conservation milestone for the park and the country.
“Restoring national parks to their former biodiversity state is a key deliverable of the African Parks conservation model and we, in conjunction with our government partner, the Rwanda Development Board, are delighted to have been able to re-introduce one of the most charismatic species to this beautiful national park.”
The group of lions destined for Akagera includes five females that have been donated by &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve and two males that have been donated by Tembe Elephant Reserve, an Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Wildlife protected area.
Located in the South African province of KZN both are relatively small, confined reserves where it is necessary to occasionally move surplus lions to avoid overpopulation.
The lions will be fitted with satellite collars, which will enable the Akagera National Park management team to monitor their movements and reduce the risk of the lions entering community areas while the park fence has been predator-proofed.
Yamina Karitanyi, the Chief Tourism Officer at the Rwanda Development Board called the move a breakthrough in the rehabilitation of the park under the public private partnership between the Rwanda Development Board and African Parks.
“The return of lions will encourage the natural balance of the ecosystem. Rwandans and visitors will now have the chance to see one of Africa’s ‘Big Five’ animals in one of the continent’s most diverse national parks, cementing Rwanda’s status as conservation focused, all-in-one safari destination,” Karitanyi said.
African Parks currently manages eight parks in seven African countries including Rwanda Central Africa Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Republic of Congo and Zambia.