Environmental DNA used to trace animals in Rwanda
發佈日期: 2026-05-25 20:25
TVB News
Scientists in the central African country of Rwanda are using traces of DNA left behind in soil and water to help track endangered mountain gorillas and other wildlife in its Volcanoes National Park.
Known as environmental DNA, the technology allows researchers to identify species using genetic materials like fur or faeces left in the wild.
PATRICK NSABIMANA, Africa Wildlife Foundation Rwanda country director: "The key component of habitat conservation is ecological monitoring. Ecological monitoring plays a key role when it comes to species detection, monitoring, impact monitoring," said Patrick Nsabiman, Africa Wildlife Foundation's Rwanda country director.
"So we have then selected eDNA as one of the new technologies to come, to bring new solutions and
to complement existing methods and approaches which we are using in ecological monitoring."
Conservationists say it also reduces the impact of human interaction during wildlife surveys in the rugged terrain along the borders of Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The technology, more commonly used in marine conservation, was introduced by the African Wildlife Foundation in partnership with the Rwandan government to help develop a nationwide inventory of species.
The technology could also help track how endangered species recolonise land that Rwanda is restoring from former agricultural use.
