Kigali, Rwanda – November 17, 2011 – Rwanda will import lions and rhinos from South Africa next year after its own wildlife was decimated by poaching and conflict, a wildlife official Wednesday.

Rwanda has only one rhino in its Akagera park, while lions disappeared when refugees returning home after the 1994 genocide occupied parts of the park.

“We have began fencing the park. The work will be finished in February 2012 and after that the reintroduction of these species will be one of priorities,” tourism director Ricah Rwigamba said, without specifying how many animals will be imported.

Highly endangered mountain gorillas are currently Rwanda’s main tourist attraction and are concentrated in the Virunga massif that straddles the border between Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
[Sapa-AFP]