The research, which began in March 2026 and will run through September 2026, follows an initial population assessment, the first of its kind in the park, which suggested that Akagera could host between 70 and 80 leopards. However, park management currently has verified records of 59 individual leopards.
According to Jean Paul Karinganire, Funding & Reporting Manager at the park, a previous study conducted between 2024 and 2025 successfully identified 59 distinct leopards from an estimated population of around 80.
He noted that leopards are more concentrated in the southern part of the park, where vegetation is denser compared to the northern section, providing more suitable cover and hunting conditions.
“This study will help us better understand the structure of our leopard population and how they live on a daily basis within the park,” Karinganire said. “We are looking at their behavior, feeding habits, preferred prey, activity patterns such as when they are most active and how often they reproduce each year.”
He added that the research will provide deeper insights into how leopards behave across different seasons, including the size of their territories, their hunting grounds, and reproductive cycles.
Karinganire emphasized that the goal is to build a comprehensive ecological dataset not only focusing on individual leopards, but also examining the broader ecosystem. This includes understanding the animals they prey on and integrating that information with other ecological data to strengthen conservation planning and park management.
Leopards are carnivorous mammals belonging to the genus Panthera, which includes other large cats such as lions, tigers, and jaguars.
Park management also reported that in the first quarter of 2026, Akagera National Park received more than 11,700 visitors, generating over $1.3 million (approximately Rwf 1.9 billion) in revenue.
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