Les introductions et réintroductions d'espèces au Parc National de l'Akagera, Rwanda

Created in 1934 in Eastern Rwanda, the Akagera National Park (ANP) has been the scene o f two introductions and one reintroduction of large ungulates.

Two male and four female black rhinoceros, a species which never lived before in the ANP but was present in Tanzania, beyond the river Akagera matching approximately the international border and working as a biogeographical barrier, were introduced in 1957 ; these animals reproduced and spread over the whole savanna. Their real number was never accurately known as the y were regularly poached by Rwandeses and Tanzanians. About ten specimens were still living before the Rwandese war and at least four at the end of 1996.

The last elephants living in the ANP were noticed in 1960-61 before the species was reintroduced in 1975. The government had decided to eradicate a population of some 150 individuals causing trouble to peasants in the Bugesera ; all large, aged animais were shot whereas 25 young ones were transferred into the ANP, where they settled in the lakes border zone. There were 45 individuals before the war and these seem to have escaped from damages.

The giraffe is considered a species never living for historical times in the area presently known as ANP. A personal deal between the president of Kenya and the former president of Rwanda resulted in the introduction in 1986 of six young animals – two males and four females - in order to improve the park diversity and attractiveness. Scientists were reluctant. The animals reproduced, extended their home range, and their numbers grow up : they resisted the war and some 20 individuals were still living in December 1997.

The reintroduction in the ANP of the elephant from a Rwandese population was legitimous. The introduction of the black rhinoceros was questionable. The introduction of giraffes had no biological justification and was opposed by scientists : they were sure that the operation would be a wreckage. Paradoxically, it is thanks to the presence of giraffes that the new governmental authorities decided it was worth preserving 100 000 ha of the park, considering that the giraffe investment had to be saved. Non-scientific arguments succeeded where biological ones had not…