Meet Rwanda’s newborn gorillas at one of the world’s most prestigious wildlife festivals. Kwita Izina continues the centuries-old Rwandan tradition of naming children in front of family and friends. Rwanda began officially naming mountain gorillas in 2005. It has evolved into a global celebration of nature. By naming them, we give these magnificent animals the respect they deserve.

The ceremony is an opportunity to thank the surrounding community, research partners, veterinarians, and dedicated conservationists, rangers, and trackers. 374 mountain gorillas have been named in the last 18 years. The 18th Annual Kwita Izina will be held on September 2, 2022, to commemorate the country’s dedication to sustainable and responsible tourism.

The Kwita Izina Gorilla naming ritual continues a centuries-old Rwandan tradition of naming children in front of family and friends. Park rangers and researchers named their gorilla pups in the Rwandan mountains thirty years before the first formal gorilla naming ceremony, and they observed each gorilla in its family and habitat.

Rwanda began officially naming mountain gorillas in 2005. It has evolved into a global celebration of nature. Naming these magnificent animals gives them the respect they rightfully deserve. The ceremony is largely intended to thank the communities, research partners, veterinarians, and committed conservationists, rangers, and trackers who work every day to conserve the gorillas in Volcanoes National Park, the gorillas’ natural home. More than 350 mountain gorillas have been named in the country.

In the previous 15 years, almost 350 mountain gorillas have been named. Kwita Izina is now part of an ambitious effort to safeguard Rwanda’s natural heritage and boost tourism’s role in the country’s transformation. Rwandans from all walks of life now recognize the gorilla’s intrinsic importance and contribution to the country’s economic prosperity as a result of the naming ceremony. Rwandans were trained as gorilla keepers. Rwanda has emerged as the continent’s leading conservation and sustainable tourist destination. For example, the 2010 census counted 480 mountain gorillas in the Virunga Massif, but the 2016 census counted 604 in the same area. These initiatives have helped to increase the global population of mountain gorillas to 1,063, which is no longer categorized as endangered.

A juvenile mountain gorilla named Kwita Izina was honored at the foot of Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park.

Here’s all you need to know about the event and the famous mountain gorilla. Kwita Izina was inspired by the historic Rwandan custom of naming kids soon after birth. Young mountain gorillas born in Rwanda the previous year are named during this ceremony. This year’s ceremony will name 19 baby mountain gorillas and their freshly established families. The Kwita Izina ceremony names approximately 239 mountain gorillas. There are fewer than 1,000 mountain gorillas on the planet. This endangered species can only be found in three countries and four national parks. Mountain gorillas produce enormous amounts of tourism money and directly benefit the economy.

Mountain gorillas produce major tourism money and directly aid communities economically. Rwanda produced roughly $400 million in tourism revenue in 2016. Tourists visiting the country’s mountain gorillas contribute significantly to this. Former AWF CEO Patrick Bergin was given the distinction of naming a gorilla in 2008. Sakora was her name.

Therefore, Gorilla Naming Kwitai Izina is a Rwandan tradition that names baby gorillas for easier identification. This began in 2005 when a number of gorilla cubs were named, each after the circumstances of their birth, their future expectations, and where they were born. Gorilla naming rituals are held in Volcanoes National Park, attracting a crowd of tourists, conservatives, researchers, and locals who come to enjoy every moment. Virunga National Park is home to ten gorilla families. It has the reserve’s greatest gorilla population. Rwanda’s gorilla naming is not only a sign of great ape naming but also an occasion to recognize conservationists and a global showcase for the country’s gorillas. The naming of a young gorilla is uncommon because most Rwanda Development Board (RDB) rituals are done in one day, but this time the event lasted a week