Focus Media (Kigali)
15 May 2008
During this year's gorilla naming ceremony "Kwita Izina", twelve baby gorillas will be named. Some 100 key personalities are expected.
In 2007, the ceremony received the brand name Kwita Izina, referring to the century-old traditional Rwandan ceremony of naming new-born children (file photo).
The Rwandan Office for Tourism and National Parks (ORTPN) initiated the gorilla naming ceremony as a way to celebrate conservation success, raise awareness of the gorillas and promote Rwanda as a tourist destination.
In 2007, the ceremony received the brand name Kwita Izina, referring to the century-old traditional Rwandan ceremony of naming new-born children.
This year's ceremony will take place on June 21, with as theme "Working together for our wildlife".
Under this theme, ORTPN wants to celebrate the efforts of all those that have contributed to the welfare of the wildlife and its conservation, and give opportunity to every one to contribute to the sustainability of conservation for wildlife.
Over 100 key personalities in wildlife conservation and business are expected to attend the event.
Amongst the personalities who have attended the ceremony in the past, apart from President Kagame and the First Lady who launched the event in 2005, are ambassadors accredited to Rwanda, local and international conservation experts, actress Natalie Portman, renowned American conservationist Jack Hanna, collaborators with the Australian "Crocodile Man" the late Steve Irwin, and many others.
Since the launch of the event, 65 baby gorillas have been named. They are part of the less than 750 mountain gorillas living in the Virunga ranges, which makes them one of the world's most endangered species.
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