On World Gorilla Day, September 24, Rwanda will host it’s 16th annual gorilla-naming ceremony. This year the event will be held virtually.
The event is a celebration of the successful conservation efforts undertaken to protect this endangered species. Called Kwita Izina meaning ‘to give a name’ in Kinyarwanda, the ceremony follows an ancient Rwandan tradition where children are named with family and friends in attendance.
The event takes place over the course of seven days and doubles up as an awareness and fundraising campaign. Kwita Izina began in 2005 and since then over 280 baby gorillas have been named.
The process of naming each gorilla is not at all random. Rather the babies are carefully named based on their behaviour and unique personality traits. By doing this, Rwandans believe it will help shape a prosperous future for the apes.
Rangers, trackers, veterinarians, guides and wardens from Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park will name 24 young gorillas who inhabit this area, according to Rwanda’s Development Board.
The theme for this year’s ceremony is ‘Conservation and Sustainable Tourism: A Foundation for Future Generations’.
Chief Tourism Officer at the Rwanda Development Board, Belise Kariza said in a statement: ‘Having Kwita Izina virtually this year gives us the opportunity to celebrate those who are at the forefront of protecting the endangered mountain gorillas and share Rwanda’s conservation success with Rwandans. We hope to inspire everyone to visit our beautiful country and experience the wonder of trekking to see the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.
‘That’s why we are proud of the impact of sustainable tourism on our national development and environmental protection efforts.’
While the details of the event will still be released, it will include insight and updates from those involved in protecting these animals. There will also be a handover ceremony of a community project that will help improve access to water in communities within close proximity to Nyungwe National Park.
Image credit: Unsplash
