Animals in Rwanda

In recent years illegal activities such as trafficking in wildlife have increased dramatically. African Grey Parrots, African Crowned Cranes and Vervet Monkeys are being sold from door to door in the neighborhoods of Kigali, the Capital City. Other species of wildlife such as chimpanzees and gorillas are involved in this illegal trade, as well. President Kagame identified the environment as one of his top three priorities in his new administration. The Office Rwandais du Tourisme et des Parc Nationaux (ORTPN), the government agency charged with the responsibility of enforcing the laws related to wildlife trade (CITES), is building capacity within its own ranks to curb this illegal trafficking in wildlife. Unfortunately, the success of ORTPN in stopping this illegal activity is limited because, at this time, no facility exists to house animals that are confiscated as part of the implementation of the laws relating to wildlife trade.

Rwanda has neither a wildlife sanctuary nor a natural science-based education center/zoo. There is no opportunity for Rwandese to learn about their indigenous wildlife through exposure to animals in a captive environment. Equally, it is difficult to educate Rwandese about the illegal nature of trade in wildlife, as well as, the impracticality of “owning” wildlife as a pet. The Province of Kigali/Ngali, as well as, the City of Kigali has in its Master Plan the creation of a zoological institution to serve these educational functions.

About the sanctuary

The primary goal of RwandaSEC is to establish the first Wildlife Sanctuary and Science Education Center in Rwanda, where confiscated wildlife can be housed in a healthy, humane, and ethical manner and which offers a diverse educational portfolio, providing a sound educational/information resource, oriented toward sensitizing Rwandan citizens (both children and adults) to the value of wildlife species and the need for conservation and environmental protection. Natural science based educational curricula will be developed to insure that all Rwandese have the opportunity to learn about their country and their environment in a pleasant atmosphere.