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RWCA Turns 10 Years With Landmark Recovery of Grey Crowned Cranes in Rwanda

Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Association (RWCA) marked a decade of conservation work on Friday, celebrating a milestone that has seen the near-extinction of the Grey Crowned Crane reversed and new regional partnerships formed to protect Grey Crowned Cranes across East Africa.

The anniversary event, held on November 21, 2025, brought together conservationists, government officials, partners and community representatives who have supported RWCA since its founding in 2014.

Crane Comeback: From Less Than 300 to Nearly 1,300 in 10 Years

Speaking at the celebration, RWCA Founder and Executive Director Dr. Olivier Nsengimana described the organisation’s achievements as nothing short of transformational.

“My goodness,” he said, reflecting on RWCA’s impact. “Before 2015, there were more cranes in hotels than in the wild. Today, it is the opposite. Cranes are flying freely in wetlands, and their numbers have grown from about 300 to nearly 1,300. What would have been an extinction is now hope.”

Dr. Nsengimana attributed the success to community involvement, long-term habitat restoration and national support. “People have really come around this movement. This is just the beginning. Our hope for the next 10 years is to ensure no species disappears in Rwanda, expand protected areas and restore degraded land, all with communities at the centre,” he said.

Government Applauds RWCA’s Leadership

Representing the Ministry of Environment, Permanent Secretary Fidèle Bingwa praised RWCA’s professionalism and passion, describing it as a model for conservation work in Rwanda.

“I was told by everyone serious in conservation that I needed to meet Olivier,” he said. “What surprised me was not just his passion, but his knowledge and professionalism, qualities reflected across the entire organization.”

Bingwa said the government remains committed to supporting conservation efforts.

“RWCA, celebrate tonight and tomorrow, but on Monday, get back to work. We have a lot to do. The passion you have pushes government to go beyond what we thought we could do.”

2025 Crane Census: Rugezi Marsh Leads Rwanda’s Conservation Success

RWCA also celebrated the stable increase of cranes after ninth consecutive census through ground and aerial surveys.

This year, Rwanda recorded 1,245 Grey Crowned Cranes, a substantial increase from the 487 counted in 2017. While slightly below last year’s total, RWCA said area-by-area fluctuations offer important insights into habitat conditions and emerging threats.

The biggest success story remains Rugezi Marsh, which recorded 351 cranes in 2025, up from 289 in 2024. For nine consecutive years, the protected wetland has shown continuous growth and now holds more than a quarter of Rwanda’s crane population.

“Rugezi is proof that long-term protection works,” RWCA noted. “Our dedicated community rangers have helped turn it into a safe breeding ground.”

Cross-Border Movements Highlight Need for Regional Collaboration

The census also revealed significant fluctuations in border regions such as Nyagatare Kagitumba near Uganda and areas surrounding Akagera National Park near Tanzania. According to RWCA, these shifts are influenced by wetland degradation, farming expansion and the cranes’ natural movement across borders.

“In Rwanda alone, we cannot secure the future of these birds,” Dr. Nsengimana said. “Their landscape extends far beyond our boundaries.”

This year, RWCA expanded its transboundary crane census to four countries, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania and, for the first time, Burundi, covering 24,904 square kilometres. The organisation also hosted a regional workshop to craft a unified strategy for crane and wetland conservation, combat illegal wildlife trade and harmonise policies.

The collaboration includes Nature Uganda, International Crane Foundation Uganda, Nature Tanzania and the Association Burundaise pour la Protection de la Nature.

A New Chapter for RWCA

As RWCA moves into its next decade, the organisation says it is more committed than ever to scaling up community-driven conservation, expanding habitat protection and strengthening regional partnerships.

“For the past 10 years, your support has enabled us to protect wetlands, empower communities and see cranes thrive,” RWCA said. “Now, as we step into a regional conservation chapter, we need you more than ever. Protecting cranes across four countries is a bigger challenge, but also a bigger opportunity.”