Kigali — Sixty-three kilometers of a perimeter fencing (Buffalo Wall) in the Gorilla habitat of the Virunga National Park have been completed.

According to a release by the National Tourism Office (ORTPN), the wall will deter the Gorillas from straying into the gardens of local people in the surrounding areas.

The revelations were made Saturday, June 17, when the country's tourism sector witnessed yet another landmark, with the successful naming of 12 Mountain Gorillas and one from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo. According to the ORTPN release, the naming ceremony that was presided over by Senate president Dr Vincent Biruta also depicted the role of the international community in the development of the tourism in Rwanda and attracted guests from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Kenya and Uganda among other countries.

During the function that was also graced by the First Lady Jeannette Kagame, both Biruta and the First Lady christened two gorillas: Urumuli (light) and Agaseke (decorated basket), respectively.

The duo was later joined by 11 other dignitaries, who named the rest of the baby gorillas and stressed the need for preservation and conservation of wildlife as the key to tourism sector growth.

The annual ceremony was initiated by the Rwandan Office of Tourism and National Parks (ORTPN) to give public attention to wildlife, which is one of the key sectors sustaining the economy. The next event will be held mid June 2007.

Among other key projects discussed during the function included the construction of two primary schools, a community lodge, two bridges and a gigantic water tank.

BAT Rwanda, MTN, BCR, Coca Cola, Rwandex, Bralirwa, Tri-star and Intercontinental Hotel were among the 20 companies that sponsored the event.