Rwanda imported lions decline in number after lioness death

Rwandan tourists and conservation enthusiasts are mourning the death of one of the seven lions imported into the country in 2015.

The lioness named 'Garuka' is suspected to have died of injuries sustained while attempting a kill, according statement released on Wednesday by the management of Akagera National Park in eastern province.

Last year Rwanda re-introduced seven lions (five females and two males) into Akagera National Park following decades of absence of big cats in the savanna grassland game reserve. They were imported from South Africa.

"We are very sad to announce the death of Garuka, one of the seven lions brought to Akagera in 2015. Garuka was five years old when she arrived Akagera with six other lions," Sarah Hall, tourism and marketing manager, Akagera National Park said in a statement.

She added that Garuka's collar stopped emitting a satellite signal in December 2015 and rangers were unable to follow her movements as closely as the others who continue to emit a satellite signal every eight hours.

"Rangers tracking Garuka last week came across her collar and remains. Garuka was in good condition last time she was seen by park rangers. There were no signs of illegal activity in the area and since she was hunting alone we suspect that she may have died of injuries sustained while attempting a kill," she explained.

According to the park manager, Garuka was unrelated to other lions and had not had any cubs since arriving in Akagera.

Despite the sad loss of the lioness, the park authority also announced the birth of two new cubs, bringing the confirmed number of lions in Akagera to 15.

Akagera's declining wildlife population is attributed to widespread poaching, especially during 1980s and 1990s.

Rwanda seeks to re-introduce black rhinos into the Akagera National Park, in a bid to boost tourism industry which is the country's largest foreign exchange earner.

Last year, Akagera National park received about 32,000 tourists, with Rwandans representing 44 percent.

Akagera National Park is the country's famous Savanna animal sanctuary with a wide range of game that include buffalos, elephants, zebras, giraffes, leopards, hyenas, hippos, and antelopes, among others.

Rwanda Development Board tourism statistics indicate that, in 2014 the country's tourism industry registered revenue receipts worth 304.9 million U.S. dollars (about Rwf 218 billion). Rwanda hosted a total number of about 1.22 million visitors in the same year. Endit