Interview with Edwin Sabuhoro, Rwanda gorilla conservationist

Rwanda is home to the majestic and critically endangered mountain gorillas. For years, poaching threatened their survival, causing their population to decline. However, thanks to growing conservation efforts, their numbers are slowly recovering. In this exclusive interview with Edwin Sabuhoro, we speak with the inspiring conservationist about his unique approach to preserving these incredible creatures, while simultaneously supporting local communities. His work is a powerful example of how conservation can benefit both wildlife and people.

You spent the early part of your career working as a warden in Volcanoes National Park, what drove you towards working with wildlife?

During my childhood, my family was displaced by the Rwandan Genocide, and we took refuge in a camp. It was there that I encountered wild animals for the first time, and I was struck by their compassion and sensitivity toward one another. That experience stayed with me, but as I got older, I became more focused on pursuing a career in law. After completing my studies, I had to do an internship, and I chose Volcanoes National Park for my placement. At the time, Rwanda didn’t have any laws to protect wildlife, poachers faced no consequences, and there was no accountability. I started to realize that if I truly wanted to make a difference, I needed to find a way to make conservation sustainable. It became clear to me that the gorillas, and the tourism they could attract, were the future of the economy, but I had to figure out how to demonstrate their value.

Read more: A guide to gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

In 2004 you volunteered on an undercover anti-poaching operation, what was involved and what did you find out?

It all started because of a surge in gorilla killings in Volcanoes National Park. We kept finding them dead during our patrols, and then we received intelligence about a baby gorilla being sold on the black market. As soon as I heard, I knew I had to act fast. I decided to disguise myself as a buyer, meet the sellers, and convince them to hand over the baby. It was a terrifying experience, but we managed to complete the transaction, and once the baby was safely removed from the situation, the poachers were arrested. That was the moment that changed my life. While I was thrilled to have saved the baby gorilla, I also felt sad for these men, their lives had become so desperate. I went to their communities and spoke with their families to understand why they were resorting to poaching, and the answer was always the same: they just needed food for their families. That’s when I realized that radical change was necessary to break the generation-long cycle of poaching.

Your initial plan was to ‘turn poachers into farmers’. How did that involve into the cultural village project you run today?

At first, I wanted to learn more about these communities and earn their trust, so I spent six months living among them. I quickly realized that they were just ordinary families trying to survive, and I felt a deep desire to help. With about $2,000 in savings, I decided to withdraw it and use it to rent land for the community. Instead of poaching, we planted potatoes, and as food security increased, so did the protection of the national park. It was working well, but I wanted to take it a step further and help these people build a real future. I figured that tourists would be coming to see the gorillas and might be interested in learning about the local communities at the same time. So, we started running workshops, and that’s when the Iby Iwacu Cultural Village was born. Dancing, cooking, and wood carving became key skills, and even before it formally opened, the village was flooded with visitor requests. Now, there are schools funded by the project, and the children growing up in the community are fully aware of the positive impact of tourism and wildlife. The changes and innovations have come from the community, and the whole project is in their hands, I couldn’t be prouder of them.

Do you think human/wildlife conflict is the largest barrier to conservation efforts? How can we work to overcome the obstacles?

Unfortunately, I believe the biggest barrier is human greed. People have lost their sense of compassion towards animals and each other, and human-wildlife conflict is just one symptom of that. To overcome it, the simplest solution is to make conservation an economically viable alternative. Increasing tourism and visits to cultural projects are obvious benefits of protecting gorillas and have helped bring prosperity to the region. Since 2004, there have been no gorilla poachings in Volcanoes National Park, and more and more babies are being born each year. I see this as a testament to the power of community engagement with cultural projects, once income is secured, natural environments can also be protected.

You turned the conservation dialogue on its head by focusing on people rather than wildlife, do you think this model can be applied across Africa?

Absolutely! For the future of the gorillas, Rwanda alone isn’t enough, we also need Uganda and the Congo on board. This is definitely something I’m working towards, and I’m currently pursuing a PhD in Parks and Tourism Management in the USA. I’m hoping this will give me the skills I need to advance my project. If Rwanda, Uganda, and the Congo can come together as a unified force, we can create an integrated development program to help push conservation efforts further.

What would be your top recommendations for people visiting Rwanda?

Don’t just focus on the wildlife, Rwanda has so much more to offer! The country is incredibly diverse, with fantastic cultural projects spread throughout. Take the time to connect with the people, hear their stories, and forge unforgettable friendships!

Read more: What to pack for a gorilla trekking safari

How can people engage with your project?

Of course, they are always welcome to visit! We love hosting people from all over the world and sharing the work we’re doing. Alternatively, you can support our program by donating. We’re currently running the Goats For Gorillas initiative, where we provide goats to former poachers and their families. By helping them transition into farming, we’re contributing to the preservation of gorilla populations for future generations. If you’d like to donate, you can learn more here.

And (we’ve got to ask) what would be your ultimate travel destinations around the world and why?

East Africa will always come first for me, it’s incredibly diverse and never stops surprising me. As for other destinations, I’d love to visit Brazil and explore the Amazon. I think it would be fascinating to experience such a completely different ecosystem!

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