Musanze: Two buffaloes shot-dead after causing havoc in the community

By TheInspirer.

Two buffaloes that came from Volcanoes National Park on the night of Saturday, January 18, 2025, were shot and killed after entering local communities, destroying crops, and causing a security threat.

It is reported that the crops, mostly corn, were destroyed by the buffaloes, who trampled over them, causing significant damage. The residents expressed fear, as wherever the buffaloes went, they left destruction in their wake.

Donatien Ndizeye told Imvaho Nshya, “The buffaloes came from the Volcanoes area and we heard them trampling on cornfields while eating the crops. Out of fear of their aggression, we quickly went inside our houses and alerted the relevant authorities, including the local leadership and the RDB (Rwanda Development Board), who are now aware of the situation.”

The community had hoped that the buffaloes could be returned to Volcanoes National Park, but they ended up taking aggressive actions, leading to the decision to shoot them.

One resident whose cornfield was destroyed said, “The buffaloes have caused me a great loss because they trampled right next to my corn farm. You can imagine the harvest I was expecting is now lost. However, I hope that the damage will be assessed and compensated.”

Musanze District Mayor, Nsengimana Claudien, confirmed the incident, stating that they had tried to return the buffaloes to the park, but the efforts were unsuccessful.

He said, “We were informed that the two buffaloes had come out of Volcanoes National Park and had destroyed the crops of the locals.”

He further emphasized that, with the cooperation of the security agencies and RDB staff, they worked hard to restore security for the citizens.

He praised the community for their improved awareness, noting that in the past, when buffaloes strayed from the park, the community would simply gather spears to chase them away.

“I want to thank the residents for understanding the importance of conserving wildlife, including buffaloes. When animals leave the park, the community now works with various authorities to return them, showing they value the benefits of wildlife conservation,” he said.

He assured that the residents whose crops were damaged would be compensated, as is the usual procedure in such cases.

Buffaloes, elephants, and other herbivores that escape Volcanoes National Park often cause damage to crops like beans, corn, potatoes, and other crops. However, when it is confirmed that wildlife is responsible for the destruction, compensation is provided to the affected residents.

One of the buffaloes shot dead after causing havoc in Musanze’s crop fields