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Whitley Award logo

2018 Whitley Award

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Future For Nature Winner 2019

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National Geographic Buffett Award for Leadership in Africa

Olivier Nsengimana - The Birdman of Rwanda

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Next Generation Leader

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ROLEX Award for Enterprise, Rolex Young Leureate

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Tusk Award for Conservation in Africa Finalist 

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Member of IUCN Crane Specialist Group

Oliver is a Vet and a multiple award-winning Conservationist fighting to save the Endangered grey crowned crane from illegal wildlife trade and habitat loss.

Olivier Nsengimana

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Crested crane conservationist Olivier Nsengimana dedicates award to country

Gray crowned crane

Grey-crowned crane numbers on a sharp rise in Rwanda

Donate to Olivier - Fighting Wildlife Extinction

SDG 15 Life on Land

## In short
Oliver is a Vet and a multiple award-winning Conservationist fighting to save the Endangered grey crowned crane from illegal wildlife trade and habitat loss. 

**Abolishing the illegal trade**
In 2014 I started a conservation project to abolish the illegal trade of the grey crowned cranes in Rwanda and won the Rolex Award for Enterprise. I established my organization in 2015 and expanded our research and conservation efforts to other endangered and threatened species in Rwanda and other East African regions. 

**Kept as pets**
A big threat to the grey crowned crane is the illegal trade and the demand from the pet trade as they are really popular to keep in private gardens, where their wings are cut, making them permanently unable to fly. In addition, not all cranes can lay eggs in captivity. This has caused a massive decline of grey crowned cranes in Rwanda.

**Freeing grey crowned cranes**
We believe that a lot of the problems the cranes in Rwanda are facing come from a lack of understanding amongst the general public. That’s why we are working to raise awareness about their vulnerability as well as the fact that they’re illegal to trade and keep in your garden. Thanks to our work, there are no more grey crowned cranes left in captivity in Rwanda today. 

## Achievements and highlights
Our biggest success is achieving our goal of having no cranes in captivity in Rwanda. We have worked tirelessly to remove all cranes from captivity, reintroducing healthy cranes back to the wild and creating a sanctuary for those that are disabled as a result of living in captivity. We also work to ensure that cranes do not continue to be poached for the pet trade and will stay in their natural habitats where they belong. We recently conducted our annual Grey Crowned Crane census in Rwanda and found that the population of cranes has risen significantly since we began our work. 

It was estimated that the population of cranes to have been around 300 in Rwanda, but possibly as low as 50. In 2017 we sighted 487 and in 2019 we sighted 748 with many more juveniles, suggesting better breeding success. This shows that our holistic approach to combating the illegal trade is working. In addition, our other biggest success is our approach to tackling this problem, and knowing that we have managed to raise awareness and engage so many people around the country, from young children to community members, poachers, teachers, local authorities right up to lawyers, government officials and policy makers. This will help us to achieve a long-term sustainable impact.

## My organization
Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Association is a registered non-governmental organization in Rwanda with the main objective to provide a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to critical conservation issues in order to create sustainable solutions. This is achieved by protecting wildlife and natural habitats, engaging and educating local communities while improving livelihoods, raising awareness of conservation issues, building the capacity of young Rwandese conservationists and disseminating high quality research and evaluation.

Founded and run by Rwandans who come from and understand local communities and their challenges, our main project is to reverse the declining trend of the endangered grey crowned cranes in Rwanda, with a focus on stopping the illegal trade. We also have projects with other endangered or threatened wildlife including bats, African grey parrots and sitatunga. 

Our organization has full support and endorsement from the Rwandan Government, through the Department Conservation at the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and close collaboration with a range of partner organizations.

**Our aim**
- Provide a holistic, multidisciplinary approach to critical conservation issues in order to create sustainable solutions
- Protect wildlife and natural habitats
- Engage and educate local communities and improve livelihoods
- Raise awareness of conservation issues
- Build the capacity of young Rwandese veterinarians and conservationists
- Disseminate high quality research and evaluation 

## Previous donors

- Houston Zoo
- National Geographic Society
- Tusk Trust
- Future For Nature
- Whitley Fund For Nature
- Oppenheimer Foundation
- US Forest Services
- Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund (CEPF)
- NABU & Crane Conservation Germany
- Rolex Awards
- Zoo Landau 
- Columbus Zoo
- Band Foundation
- Clifford Chance
- US Embassy in Kigali
- Mazuri

## Awards and recognitions

- Future For Nature Award Winner 2019
- Whitley Award Winner 2018
- National Geographic Award for Leadership in conservation 2017
- Tusk Award Finalist 2016
- Time Magazine Next Generation Leader 2016
- ROLEX Award for Enterprise, Rolex Young Laureate, 2014

In short
Oliver is a Vet and a multiple award-winning Conservationist fighting to save the Endangered grey crowned crane from illegal wildlife trade and habitat loss.

Abolishing the illegal trade
In 2014 I started a conservation project to abolish the illegal trade of the grey crowned cranes in Rwanda and won the Rolex Award for Enterprise. I established my organization in 2015 and expanded our research and conservation efforts to other endangered and threatened species in Rwanda and other East African regions.

Kept as pets
A big threat to the grey crowned crane is the illegal trade and the demand from the pet trade as they are really popular to keep in private gardens, where their wings are cut, making them permanently unable to fly. In addition, not all cranes can lay eggs in captivity. This has caused a massive decline of grey crowned cranes in Rwanda.

Freeing grey crowned cranes
We believe that a lot of the problems the cranes in Rwanda are facing come from a lack of understanding amongst the general public. That’s why we are working to raise awareness about their vulnerability as well as the fact that they’re illegal to trade and keep in your garden. Thanks to our work, there are no more grey crowned cranes left in captivity in Rwanda today.

Achievements and highlights
Our biggest success is achieving our goal of having no cranes in captivity in Rwanda. We have worked tirelessly to remove all cranes from captivity, reintroducing healthy cranes back to the wild and creating a sanctuary for those that are disabled as a result of living in captivity. We also work to ensure that cranes do not continue to be poached for the pet trade and will stay in their natural habitats where they belong. We recently conducted our annual Grey Crowned Crane census in Rwanda and found that the population of cranes has risen significantly since we began our work.

It was estimated that the population of cranes to have been around 300 in Rwanda, but possibly as low as 50. In 2017 we sighted 487 and in 2019 we sighted 748 with many more juveniles, suggesting better breeding success. This shows that our holistic approach to combating the illegal trade is working. In addition, our other biggest success is our approach to tackling this problem, and knowing that we have managed to raise awareness and engage so many people around the country, from young children to community members, poachers, teachers, local authorities right up to lawyers, government officials and policy makers. This will help us to achieve a long-term sustainable impact.

My organization
Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Association is a registered non-governmental organization in Rwanda with the main objective to provide a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to critical conservation issues in order to create sustainable solutions. This is achieved by protecting wildlife and natural habitats, engaging and educating local communities while improving livelihoods, raising awareness of conservation issues, building the capacity of young Rwandese conservationists and disseminating high quality research and evaluation.

Founded and run by Rwandans who come from and understand local communities and their challenges, our main project is to reverse the declining trend of the endangered grey crowned cranes in Rwanda, with a focus on stopping the illegal trade. We also have projects with other endangered or threatened wildlife including bats, African grey parrots and sitatunga.

Our organization has full support and endorsement from the Rwandan Government, through the Department Conservation at the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and close collaboration with a range of partner organizations.

Our aim
Provide a holistic, multidisciplinary approach to critical conservation issues in order to create sustainable solutions
Protect wildlife and natural habitats
Engage and educate local communities and improve livelihoods
Raise awareness of conservation issues
Build the capacity of young Rwandese veterinarians and conservationists
Disseminate high quality research and evaluation

Previous donors

Houston Zoo
National Geographic Society
Tusk Trust
Future For Nature
Whitley Fund For Nature
Oppenheimer Foundation
US Forest Services
Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund (CEPF)
NABU & Crane Conservation Germany
Rolex Awards
Zoo Landau
Columbus Zoo
Band Foundation
Clifford Chance
US Embassy in Kigali
Mazuri

Awards and recognitions

Future For Nature Award Winner 2019
Whitley Award Winner 2018
National Geographic Award for Leadership in conservation 2017
Tusk Award Finalist 2016
Time Magazine Next Generation Leader 2016
ROLEX Award for Enterprise, Rolex Young Laureate, 2014

Illegal pet trade is killing grey crowned cranes. Olivier is freeing these unique and endangered birds from captivity to grow the population.

Founder, Executive Director & Vet

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