Aerial census confirms almost 8,000 large mammals in Akagera National Park, Rwanda

An aerial census conducted by Akagera Management Company during August 2013 has recorded 7 892 large mammals in Akagera National Park.

The census involved a detailed count of 11 mammal species including elephant, buffalo, eland, hippopotamus, giraffe, roan, warthog, zebra, waterbuck, impala and topi in Akagera. The census confirmed the presence of 2 093 buffalo, 1 057 impalas, 999 zebras, 948 waterbucks and also secured the park’s reputation as a haven for hippo with 885 of the species having been sighted.

"Of those species recorded many will in fact exceed the number recorded in the census due to factors affecting visibility and counting efficiency such as vegetation cover and topography as well as timing and aircraft altitude,” said Akagera Park manager, Jes Gruner.

The park’s animal population has recently also been bolstered by 800 new arrivals, the result of animals inadvertently being chased into the reserve by the erection of a fence along the western perimeter of Akagera, which was funded by the Rwanda Development Board.

The August census comprised east west transects of the park, marked out 750 metres apart, beginning in the south and working up to the north, and the count was conducted over three days, comprising 20 hours flying time. Although the count excluded the papyrus swamp, a shoebill was spotted near Kageyo Peninsula and it has been recommended that a separate, specific wetland survey be conducted in the future.

The Akagera Management Company plans to conduct an aerial census every second year in order to monitor population trends.