Warning as Wild Fires Devastate Ruvubu National Park in Burundi
Bushfires have damaged almost 10,000 hectares of Ruvubu National Park in Burundi. Park rangers are continuously fighting the fires with little success since they are understaffed and ill-equipped. Since late July, fire outbreaks have become more frequent, according to the rangers.
The dry season is a difficult time to fight. These fires cause significant damage. Bosco Ndayikeza, a park ranger, stated, “We’re trying to deal with them and put them out every day.” The park’s chief manager, Marc Bakundintwari, believes that poachers are the main culprits for the devastation.
“There are trails leading to Tanzania; people crossing over there may also set the park on fire, if only to clear a path,” he warned, referring to the poachers who enter the area in quest of fuel or grazing land for their cattle.
The fires have been expanding and consuming one-fifth of the protected area in the absence of sophisticated firefighting equipment. The park is managed by just 45 employees despite its enormous size. Founded in 1980, Ruvubu National Park spans 50,800 hectares and is home to 44 species of animals, 425 species of birds, reptiles, including Nile crocodiles, 14 species of fish, and more.
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