By Alex Gahima
The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has praised 42-year Nteziryayo Tadeo for saving a Crested Crane that had been trapped and captured by a minor for motives that still remain unclear.
On the 20th of May 2023, while at Nyanigongo Farm in Murora Sub County, Kisoro district, Nteziryayo made a citizen’s arrest after he witnessed 16-year-old Gilbert Niyogushimwa trap and tie up the bird.
A report from Kisoro Main Police indicates that Nteziryayo, a resident of Butuga Village, Gisorora Parish, and Nyakabande Sub County nabbed the suspect before he could further harm the Crested Crane.
He quickly took the suspect and the tied-up bird to Mutolere Police post to report the Crime.
In his report, Nteziryayo says, he saw the young man suspiciously moving about in the farm.
Nteziryayo says his mind told him the minor might be an Irish Potato thief.
In the Statement, Nteziryayo says he posted up somewhere out of sight, watched and waited for what would come next.
The Suspect, Gilbert Niyogushimwa, who has since been transferred from Mutolere Police Post to Kisoro Main Station was in the garden to steal, not Irish Potatoes but one of Uganda’s most treasured birds, the Crested Crane.
Crested Crane (Balearica regulorum gibbericeps) is Uganda’s National Symbol with its features significantly appearing on the National Flag, Court of Arms and Legal tender, i.e. (500 & 1000 Ugandan Shillings).
Boaz Arinaitwe, Kisoro Police Community Liaison Officer says, upon interrogation, the suspect claimed that his intentions to capture the bird was to get a cure for Tuberculosis.
According to the Suspect, Niyogushimwa, water that has been drank by a Crested Crane has healing components for Tuberculosis.
Arinaitwe explained that the Suspect has been charged with Unlawful possession of Wildlife Protected Species, under article 70, 71 of the Uganda Wildlife Act 2019.
“The Crested Crane was handed over to UWA authorities in Kisoro who I imagine found a way to safely set the innocent bird free”, Arinaitwe said.
Bashir Hangi, Uganda Wildlife Authority Spokesperson said the law, under the Uganda Wildlife Act 2019 provides for a life sentence and or 20 billion Shillings fine.
The judicial officer reserves the right of discretion to convict and sentence, according to Hangi.
He urged communities to desist from such acts that result in the complete loss of such protected Wildlife.
“It would certainly be the greatest tragedy of our time to have the Crested Crane as the Country’s national symbol but in reality, the bird vanished because selfish human actions, Hangi stressed.
Hangi explained that the natural habitat for the Crested Crane continues to be threatened by human activity with more people planting food in wetlands.
This has forced the Crested Crane to adapt in order to survive.
Hangi noted that peaceful co-existence between Human beings and Crested Cranes is possible and this is evident in some places across the Country however some people with wrong motives threaten to wipe them out for selfish reasons.
Aurelia Kyalimpa, the Community Conservation Warden with Mgahinga Gorilla National Park says, communities in Kisoro need to be commended for their efforts in curtailing such illegal practices.
According to Kyalimpa, cases of Wildlife trafficking among Kisoro communities continue to prevail despite continuous sensitization and awareness campaigns.
Youth between the ages of 18 and 35 have been linked to the illegal trade and smuggling of protected Wildlife especially the Crested Crane.
“Our enforcement teams have discovered that the Crested Crane and other birds are often smuggled into the Democratic Republic of Congo as well as Rwanda, however adducing evidence of such illegal trade is very difficult”, Kyalimpa disclosed.
In 2022, More than 100 African grey parrots were seized from a Wildlife trafficker Bob Kabongo, who was simultaneously arrested red-handed with 122 live African grey parrots in the borders of Kisoro district in Uganda.
Bob Mbaya Kabongo was arrested during a joint operation conducted by UWA, UPDF and Police in Kibaya village, Bunagana town council following intelligence information received about a suspected trafficker from Kinshasa who intended to sell African grey parrots to the highest bidder in Uganda.
In 2021, at the height of COVID 19 lockdown, a Fuso truck headed for the Democratic Republic of Congo registration number UBE 001U was intercepted at Kanaba Checkpoint in Kisoro with 60 Marabou Stocks.
Kyalimpa, who was the enforcement Officer assigned to act on behalf of UWA recalls that the birds had been tied up in Sacks and loaded on top of the cab of the truck.
“The driver who was carrying other merchandise including Posho and other items was confident the security would only check the back of the truck, but his luck ran out when the security noticed long beaks sticking out from the top of the truck, Kyalimpa recalls.
The truck was driven to Kisoro Main Police Station where it was discovered that three of the Marabou stocks had died due to asphyxiation.
The driver of the truck admitted his guilty and demanded for leniency.
Police offered the driver an ultimatum of 6 months in prison or a fine of 3 Million Ugandan Shillings. He chose the latter and went on his way.
“The birds were eventually nursed back to normal health, thanks to the support of UWA staff. The birds eventually recovered and found their way back into the wild”, Kyalimpa noted.
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