Farmers Blamed for Fire Losses in National Park

Wildfires touched off by farmers clearing land ravaged hundreds of acres of Rwanda’s premier national park, home to elephants, giraffes and a variety of exotic animals, officials said.

Meanwhile, the government began evicting farmers from the fringes of another national park to protect the habitat for the rare mountain gorillas.

An official said the wildfires at Akagera National Park in eastern Rwanda had been brought under control after burning portions of about one-third of the park.

Akagera has been a focus of Rwanda’s efforts to draw tourists following a genocidal war 10 years ago.