Rwanda to reintroduce elephants in Nyungwe National Park

Rwanda is set to re-introduce elephants in the vast tropical rainforest Nyungwe National Park in the country's western province.

Nyungwe Park is the Rwanda's most important area of biodiversity and has been rated the highest priority for forest conservation in Africa.

Covering more than 1,000 square kilometres, the park comprises a diversity of flora and fauna including chimpanzees, birds and plants.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Belise Kariza, chief tourism officer at the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), said that research is being conducted to ascertain the kind of elephant species that will be re-introduced in Nyungwe National Park.

"Re-introduction of the elephant is expected to boost tourism revenues. We are looking at enhancing the beauty and spectacular diversity of Nyungwe National Park beyond flora and fauna, canopy walk, birds and chimpanzees," she noted.

Elephants are to return to the chilly western province game reserve more than a decade after it was last seen in the park.

In 1999, poachers killed the only elephant in the park.

Statistics from RDB indicate that in 2014, Rwanda's tourism industry registered revenue receipts worth 304.9 million U.S. dollars, and hosted a total number of about 1.22 million visitors. Endit