RDB warns poachers to allay looming extinction of Grey Crowned Cranes

By George Kalisa

Rwanda Development Board (RDB) in collaboration with the Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Association has today echoed the ‘last call’ to people still involved in the illegal trade of the Grey Crowned Cranes to allay looming extinction of the species.

The board which is charged with tourism development has set end of December as the deadline for this illegal trade.  

“In a bid to stop the illegal trade of Grey Crowned Cranes and reverse their shocking decline in numbers which could lead to their extinction, RDB in collaboration with the Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Association have issued a final call to those still poaching, selling and keeping Grey Crowned Cranes to stop by end of December 2019,” RDB said in the statement issued today.

According to the statement, RDB and stakeholders have for the last five years demonstrated commitment to ‘stop the illegal trade and domestic keeping of Grey Crowned Cranes’, which they blame for declining numbers of the species. “Anyone who is still involved in poaching or selling cranes will be prosecuted by the existing laws that prohibit such crimes on wildlife. The laws are; Organic law N^o 04/2005 of 08/04/2005 especially in articles 22, 23, 24 and 94, Organic Law instituting the penal code N° 01/2012/OL of 02/05/2012 article 417 and Ministerial Order N^o 007/2008 of 15/08/2008 establishing the list of protected animals and plant species,” added statement.