Regional Pact Signed to Protect Cranes Migrating Through Rwanda to Neighboring Countries

The Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Association (RWCA) has signed a new cross-border cooperation agreement with four conservation organizations in Burundi, Tanzania, and Uganda aimed at protecting grey crowned cranes that migrate from Rwanda into these neighboring countries.

The agreement was signed in Kigali on November 21, 2025, during RWCA’s celebration of its 10th anniversary a milestone marked by significant progress in crane conservation.

The ceremony brought together delegates from wildlife agencies across the region. Representatives from Nature Uganda and the International Crane Foundation (Uganda), Nature Tanzania, and the Association Burundaise pour la Protection de la Nature also signed the pact, formalizing a joint conservation framework involving the four countries.

Cooperation Across 24,904 Square Kilometers of Crane Habitat

Under the new partnership, RWCA and the four organizations will jointly protect cranes across 24,904 square kilometers of shared habitat spanning the four countries.

This area includes: Rwanda’s border wetlands, home to 1,030 cranes representing 82% of the country’s total population

Uganda’s adjacent zone, hosting 787 cranes

Tanzania’s border wetlands, with 266 cranes

Burundi’s nearby areas, where 19 cranes are recorded

Concerns Over Cranes Leaving Rwanda and Not Returning

RWCA Founder and Executive Director Dr. Olivier Nsengimana explained that data collected over several years showed a worrying trend: cranes in wetlands near the borders such as Akagera, Akanyaru, and Kagitumbaoften migrate into neighboring countries and do not return, raising questions about their safety and survival outside Rwanda. “In these border wetlands, crane numbers fluctuate dramatically. They disappear, yet they are not dying many cross over during the farming seasons and may remain there,” Dr. Nsengimana said. “Meanwhile, protected sites like the Rugezi Marsh, where human activity is limited, show steady growth every year.”

He added that GPS tracking devices placed on several cranes revealed cross-border movement into Burundi, Tanzania, and Uganda. This made collaboration with conservation bodies in these countries essential, he said, to ensure the birds are protected and local communities there are educated about their importance. “We realized that following these cranes across borders required paperwork and procedures that were too complex,” he said. “Working directly with organizations in those countries allows us to share data and take coordinated action.”

A Decade of Conservation Gains

Dr. Nsengimana highlighted RWCA’s achievements over the last ten years. When the organization began in 2015, Rwanda had fewer than 300 cranes in the wild, while many others were kept illegally in private homes. Today, thanks to sustained conservation efforts, the population has grown to 1,245 cranes.

RWCA has also grown from a small team of five volunteers to an organization with 300 full-time staff.

Government Commends RWCA’s Contribution

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Fidèle Bingwa, praised RWCA’s decade of dedication to wildlife protection. He said the organization’s achievements encouraged the government to strengthen its own conservation efforts, as the impact of RWCA’s work continues to be visible and measurable.