Rwanda is one of the three countries, which shelter the endangered mountain gorillas. Annually every year Rwanda cerebrates naming of newborn mountain Gorillas which is locally known as “Kwita lzina”. The ceremony takes place at Kinigi in Musanze headquarters of volcano national park. This yearly ceremony attracts a good number of tourists as well as local people.
The mountain Gorillas are unique endangered creatures that are only found in three countries that is Rwanda, Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo. Within the whole world, there as few as 1006 mountain gorillas. Rwanda attracts a considerable number of tourists interested in gorilla treks.
In most cases, the named babies are those ones born after the last naming. The newborn babies are given names according to the location it was born and the circumstance in which it was born.
Berize Akariza, the Chief Tourism Officer at Rwanda Development Board (RDB), describe the idea of gorilla naming as an utmost value given to the endangered species
Historically, the naming of gorillas started in 1960s by the researchers that were led by Dian Fossey who particularly named the Gorillas for study purposes as well as to accurate the monitor of the giants in the jungle in Volcanoes National Park. Unfortunately, Dian Fossey was killed by the poachers who were not known but the naming of gorillas never ended there. Instead the naming continued with the rangers, trackers and researchers from Fossey Fund who were working among Gorillas every day.
This traditional Rwandan naming ceremony for humans is organized and managed by the Rwanda government known as Rwanda Development Board which operates national parks where gorillas live. This year’s gorilla naming was graced by H.E. President Paul Kagame who was the guest of honor and it was accompanied by lots of entertainment. The15th edition since 2005 was attended by several participants at the ceremony, including Rwandan and international officials, local and international conservationists, business leaders, sports personalities, musicians and others
What are some of the newborn gorilla names?
Due to the fact that humans baptize their new born babies, gorillas do the same because of sharing human DNA hence their newborn babies are given names.
The newborn baby from Isimbi family was named lngando meaning hope and sustainable tourism in Rwanda. All thanks goes to Jeremy Jeuncey the founder of Beautiful Destination and Advocate for Conservation who named this newborn baby.
The newborn baby from Amahoro family is called lsanzure meaning that gorillas should roam freely. The person responsible for choosing this name is madeleine Nyiratuza from conservation and restoration of Gishwati forest reserve.
The first Israel resident Ambassador Ron Adams named a baby gorilla as Igihango baby gorilla from sabyinyo family group which means the unbreakable bond between giant apes and their guardians
The World Wide Fund for Nature Director-General Marco Lambertini named lkirenga baby gorilla from Kwitonda group
Ibirori baby gorilla from Susa gorilla family was named by Sherrie Silver the award-winning choreographer.
The park ranger Jean Nepon Musekura from Volcanoes National Park named Bisoke baby gorilla from Ntambara group.
The Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Rwanda Karen Chalyan named Umwijariko that denotes exception a baby gorilla from Ntambara group.
A senior tour guide with about 12 years’ experience in Rwanda, Mr. Robert Twibaze was also gives a chance to name lnzobere which denotes expert a baby gorilla from Agashya gorilla group.
Ne-yo the famous musician and song writer was also invited to name Biracyaza baby gorilla from the Kuryama group.
The UN Deputy Secretary-General and former Federal Minister of Environment of Nigeria Amina Mohammed named Ingoga baby gorilla from Umubano group.
The Kenyan entrepreneur and philanthropist Wilfred Kiboro named Ituze baby gorilla from Sabyinyo group.
The park ranger at Akagera National Park Anthony Nzuk named Karame baby gorilla from Korea group.
The name Inararibonye denotes wise and experienced and so Paul Milton alongside Luke Bailes named Inararibonye baby gorilla from the Pablo group.
The international supermodel Naomi Campbell named Intarutwa baby gorilla from Muhoza group.
The President of the Common wealth Games Federation Dame Louise Martin and Patricia Scotland named Iruiti baby gorilla from Igisha group.
Niringiyimana Emmanuel named Mugwire.
Donavan Ronan named Intego from Kwitonda group denoting purpose.
Umukuru baby mountain gorilla was named by Hailemariam Desalegn Boshe from the Pablo group as a tribute to the oldest elephant-Mutware in Akagera National Park that passed on in 2018.
What are other activities taking place on the ceremony?
The ceremony includes traditional dances and music, plus a poem. The entertainment of these Rwandese reflect on their cultures and their ways of living which
How many were the infants?
During the kwita lzina ceremony, twenty five gorilla infants were named. Some of these infants were from families that are managed by the government agency and other Ten of them are from groups that the Fossey Fund protects. These infants were named by different special people. Interestingly specialists are demonstrated as gorilla newborn babies during the Rwiza Izina ceremony because among the rules and regulations of gorillas in Rwanda Development Board, gorillas aren’t allowed to be in a crowd.
What are some of the families whose infants have been given names?
Each family is unique in its own kind with a different stripy of its formation, gorilla numbers, and location. In volcano national park, there are 10 habituated family gorillas and some of these unique giant families with newborn babies are Susa, Amahoro and so on.
Apart from Rwanda, where else do we find gorillas and how much are permits
Uganda being the pearl of Africa, great apes happened to live in Bwindi Impenetrable national park and Mgahinga national park. The country happens to have half of the gorilla population in the whole world and the habituated gorillas in Uganda are 17 families.16 gorilla habituated families in Bwindi and 1 in Mgahinga. Tourism in Uganda is led by Uganda Wildlife Authority which operates the wildlife creatures and provides gorilla permits to trackers as well as trustees companies. The gorilla permits costs 600 us dollars and 1500 us dollars for gorilla habituated individuals.
Despite the fact that Congo is not yet stable, it also has unique gorillas in the Virunga National Park. The gorillas are protected thought the un stability of the country has affected tourism negatively. The permits in Congo cost 400-450 us dollars.
The routes in both Uganda and Congo can be accessed by roads and flights according to what the tracker wants.