APA – Kigali (Rwanda) – Rwanda anticipates to promote wildlife conservation efforts ahead of one of the iconic “Umusambi Race” (Grey-crowned) cycling race slated for December16, sport sources confirmed Thursday in Kigali.
The event includes three categories: Pro riders, Amateurs and local residents covering a total distance of 89.54 Km in Burera, a district from Northern Rwanda
Stages of the race:
Butaro – Banda (38.24 KM) – Amateurs
Rwerere – Banda (26.54 KM) – Local residents
The Rugezi swamp along which the race will pass through has long been among famous sites in Rwanda where thousands of grey-crowned cranes congregate.
While grey-crowned cranes are part of Rwanda’s wildlife species, the illegal domestication of these endangered birds for both commercial purposes and consumption has gained ground in recent years.
Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Association (RWCA) has made a concerted effort since 2015 to address the threats posed to grey-crowned cranes: confiscating all cranes being kept illegally in domestication, returning those that are in good health to the wild in the Akagera National Park, and working towards establishing a good captive facility for those that cannot be released – serving ultimately as an education centre for crane conservation.
CU/as/APA