Volcanoes National Park Moves to Strengthen Anti-Poaching Activities | International Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP)International Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP)

Volcanoes National Park in partnership with IGCP organized an anti-poaching training on 4^th and 5^th April. The meeting aimed at equipping the rangers with ranger patrol techniques to improve patrol in and around the protected area.

The meeting that brought together conservation partners including Volcanoes National Park, Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, Gorilla Doctors and IGCP to discuss several challenges that hinder effective patrols for example, limited shock patrols, limited human resource, increased human wildlife conflict which makes the community indifferent about conservation and inaccurate data collection which causes distortion. Shock patrols are extended and they complement routine patrols. Shock patrols bring together a bigger number of rangers (20 usually) from different patrol posts to operate in critical areas. With limited shock patrols the park largely depends on the less effective routine patrols.

Commenting on the challenges of effective patrols, Damascene Hakizimana, Research and Monitoring Warden at Volcanoes National Park said, “Effective patrolling faces lots of problems but all these can be fixed by us if we make it intentional. Collecting data accurately can help the park and the whole conservation system to plan better and make informed decisions. We should be vigilant and purpose to collect accurate data at all times.” Damascene.

On the other hand, Janvier Kwizera, the Community Conservation Warden emphasized the need to engage the communities more, in joint wildlife conservation. “The community’s willingness to partner with the park to end poaching is at 70%. It is up to you rangers to exploit these readily available external forces. Most of the challenges we are facing now rotate around low human capital and inefficient leadership by some Cooperatives that work with the park. It is time to engage all park-edge members.” said Kwizera.

Winding up the meeting participants made a couple of recommendations:  reviewing park – community collaboration, increasing ownership and accountability among the Ranger Based Monitoring team, re-mapping for suspected poachers to be regularly monitored, putting emphasis on Kabatwa-Bugeshi red area poaching sites and organizing intensified shock patrols in high-problem areas.