admin | May 8, 2025
News Brief
Just ten years ago, grey crowned cranes were disappearing from Rwanda’s wetlands. Now, thanks to conservation efforts led by veterinarian Olivier Nsengimana and the Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Association, the population is recovering. In 2017, just 487 cranes were recorded—last year, 1,293. The group rescues cranes from captivity, restores wetlands, and partners with local communities. Mr. Nsengimana says, “We want people to benefit and participate.” Regional work is expanding to Uganda, Tanzania, and Burundi.
Just ten years ago, spotting a grey crowned crane in Rwanda’s wetlands was rare. These elegant birds — tall and graceful, with golden feathers on their heads — were disappearing due to habitat loss and illegal capture. By 2017, fewer than 500 remained in the wild.
Olivier Nsengimana, a Rwandan veterinarian and founder of the Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Association (RWCA), was alarmed by their decline. He says, “We had more cranes in people’s homes than in the wild.”
Grey crowned cranes depend on wetlands to feed and breed, but wetland areas are shrinking across East Africa. In Rwanda, about 36% of wetlands were lost between 1998 and 2016. In Uganda, 30% disappeared between 1998 and 2008.
To address the problem, RWCA began rescuing cranes from captivity and returning them to the wild. In 2015, the organization launched a national awareness campaign offering amnesty to people who kept cranes as pets. Many came forward to surrender the birds voluntarily. Those in good health were rehabilitated in Akagera National Park. Others were taken to Umusambi Village, a protected wetland in Kigali.
Thanks to these efforts, the crane population is rebounding. Mr. Nsengimana says, “In 2017, we counted 487 cranes. Last year, we counted 1,293.”
Today, RWCA employs more than 270 people—90% from local communities. They organize school programs, awareness campaigns, and women-led projects to reduce wetland dependency. Mr. Nsengimana insists, “We want people to benefit and participate.”
Recognizing that cranes cross borders, RWCA also works with groups in Uganda, Tanzania, and soon Burundi. Community conservationists are trained to track cranes and monitor wetlands using mobile phones.
Achilles Byaruhanga, executive director of NatureUganda, says community involvement is key to conservation success. He explains, “The best approach is to work with local people: train them, raise awareness, and empower them to be stewards of the species.”
Uganda has now stabilized its crane population and protected important wetland areas. Birdwatching, especially of cranes, is now a major part of the country’s tourism.
For his leadership in conservation, Nsengimana received the 2025 Whitley Gold Award for Nature. He says the progress in Rwanda is proof that regional success is possible: “In Rwanda, we have achieved success, and I believe it can be done across the region.”
This story is adapted from an article by Musinguzi Blanshe for Mongabay. Read the full story here: https://news.mongabay.com/2025/04/rwandas-olivier-nsengimana-inspires-protection-for-gray-crowned-cranes-in-east-africa/
Photo: RWCA’s work protecting cranes includes forming alliances with like-minded groups in neighboring countries. Image courtesy of RWCA.