Krisztián Gyöngyi, an Ecologist, was killed by a rhinoceros in Akagera National Park in Rwanda.

This was confirmed in a statement issued by the park management yesterday, Wednesday June 7,  and can been seen as a loss for all who knew Kris and for rhino conservation across the continent.

“It is with utmost regret that I inform you that Krisztián Gyöngyi was killed this morning by a rhinoceros in Akagera National Park in Rwanda while out tracking animals in the park. Kris was instrumental in supporting the reintroduction efforts of the black rhino into Friends of Akagera National Park, and was on the ground training rangers how to track and protect them,’ Peter Fearnhead CEO of African Parks said.

While his family has been informed, details of the incident are still being gathered. Krisztián was a rhino specialist with more than five years of experience monitoring and conserving rhinos in both Majete Wildlife Reserve and Liwonde National Park in Malawi.

His Master’s degree was on habitat capacity on the black rhinoceros in Majete, and he had been carrying out his PhD research on the conservation ecology of the black rhinoceros in Liwonde National Park since 2012. He leaves behind his wife Orsi and his young daughter.

‘This is a tremendous loss for all of us, especially for rhino conservation efforts in Africa. On behalf of everyone at African Parks, our sympathies and condolences are with his family,’ Fearnhead said.

Source: latabaheard news