Rwanda’s Gorilla Naming Ceremony 2024

An annual ritual called Kwita Izina is done in Rwanda to name young gorillas. The Rwanda Development Board, in collaboration with the Rwanda Parks Authority and other conservation groups, organizes an annual event that serves as a means of bringing attention to the need to preserve gorillas and their habitat as well as to recognize conservationists’ and local groups’ efforts to do so.

Why attend Rwanda’s Gorilla Naming Ceremony 2024

Despite the fact that it’s a sizable celebration that draws both local and international attendees. The purpose of Rwanda’s customary gorilla naming ceremony is to celebrate the nation’s expanding gorilla population while also paying recognition to those who have made significant contributions to gorilla conservation.

Rwanda’s Kwita Izina ceremony (Rwanda Gorilla Naming 2024):

Gorillas in Rwanda are frequently given names by the scientists and conservationists who study and track them. The Rwanda gorilla naming ceremony of Mountain Gorillas is based on the reflect the gorilla’s physical or psychological features. For instance, “Silverback” can be the name of a gorilla with a recognizable silver hair patch on its back.

Additionally, gorillas that have become accustomed to humans and are open to tourist visits are frequently given names for tracking and identification purposes. The Tourism and Conservation Department of the Rwanda Development Board often handles this.

Where the Mountain gorillas

The forests of the Virunga Mountains in Central Africa are home to mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei), a subspecies of the eastern gorilla. The Grauer’s gorilla is the other member of the two subspecies of eastern gorillas. Approximately 1,004 mountain gorillas are thought to exist in the wild as of 2021, placing them in severely endangered status. The Virunga Massif, which straddles the borders of Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, contains their populations in its protected areas. Additionally, they are found in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Facts about mountain gorillas

The kind and calm mountain gorilla is recognized for living in secure, cohesive groups under the leadership of a dominant male known as a silverback. They consume a range of plants, including leaves, stems, fruits, and bamboo, as they are herbivores. To shield them from the chilly conditions of their high-altitude home, they have thick, black, and lustrous fur.

Gorilla population and threats

Loss of habitat, poaching, and sickness are the major risks to mountain gorillas. Mountain gorilla populations have recently stabilized and grown thanks to conservation activities like habitat preservation, anti-poaching patrols, and veterinary treatment. However, there is still a serious threat to their population.

Volcanoes National Park

A protected area called Volcanoes National Park, also known as Parc National des Volcans, is situated in Rwanda’s Virunga Mountains. It is one of the most popular tourist spots in the nation and is the habitat of the critically endangered mountain gorillas. The first national park in Africa, the park was created in 1925. Additionally, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Location of Volcanoes National Park

Along Rwanda’s borders with Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in the northern section of the country, is where the park is situated. It comprises five of the eight Virunga Mountains volcanoes, including Mount Karisimbi, the tallest volcano in the range, and has a surface area of 160 square kilometers. The late gorilla researcher Dian Fossey founded the Karisoke Research Center, which is also located in the park.

How many Mountain Gorillas live in Volcanoes National Park

Around 200 mountain gorillas are thought to live in the park, which is home to around 20% of all mountain gorillas in the world. To visit the gorillas and see them in their natural environment, visitors can take a hike around the park. Other activities available in the park include hiking, bird watching, and cultural excursions.

About Rwanda Gorilla naming ceremony on Gorilla trekking and permits in Rwanda.

It is crucial to remember that gorilla trekking in the park is strictly controlled, requires a permit in advance, and requires visitors to adhere to rigorous visitor behavior requirements while among gorillas. In order to protect both the gorillas and the tourists’ safety, this will lessen the influence that humans have on the gorillas and their ecosystem.