Uproar over plot to export lions to Rwanda park

A plan by Kenyan authorities to export lions to Rwanda has sparked a fierce storm with Kenya's wildlife conservation groups opposed to it.

The alleged export is to take place next month according to authoritative sources.

Any export of Kenyan wildlife requires presidential approval and the concurrence of several ministries.

Conservationists in Kenya opposed to the plan say Rwanda had not addressed issues resulting in the decline of its own lion population.

Akagera Park

In a bid to become a high-end wildlife tourist destination, the landlocked central African nation is said to have struck a deal with Kenyan authorities to import eight lions to increase the numbers in Akagera National Park.

Paul Kurgat, a tourism stakeholder and practitioner, wondered why Kenya would sanction the export of lions to Rwanda when there are so few in its own wildlife sanctuaries.

"When you go out on a game drive, say in the expansive Tsavo National Park, it can take an entire day to spot just one lion," Mr Kurgat told The Standard in a telephone interview yesterday.

And sources cited by eTurbo News, an authoritative online information bulletin on tourism, aviation and travel, indicate that next month, Rwanda's Akagera Park will be receiving eight lions from Kenya.

The report dated August 5 states that logistics are already in place at the African Parks-managed Akagera National Park in Rwanda to receive the lions from Kenya.

Sunday evening, Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Deputy Communication Spokesman Jinaro Mburu denied knowledge of the planned export of lions to Rwanda and referred this writer to Ministry of Water, Environment and Natural Resources.

"We are not aware. If anything, it could be on a government-to-government basis and KWS falls under the ministry. So the ministry is best suited to comment," Mr Jinaro said.

A spokesman from the ministry, Murei Muya, had earlier told The Standard to get in touch with KWS to shed light on the matter.

And a KWS insider who spoke on condition of anonymity said a decision to approve the 'export' has not been made.

"A technical evaluation report from KWS will be used to determine the approval process," the source said.