By Wilson Kagabo
THE NEW TIMES

The Rwanda National Office of Tourism (ORTPN) is to baptise 30 baby mountain gorillas in a public ceremony scheduled for 25th June at the Gorillas Nest Lodge in Ruhengeri province.

During a recent press briefing held at ORTPN headquarters, Rwigamba said the mountain gorillas to be named will include 6 from the Susa family, 2 from Amahoro A, while Amahoro B will have 3 infants named, Group13 will have 5, Sabyinyo (1), Pable (9), Shinda (3) and 1 from Beetsme. The gorilla naming event has been in existence for the last 20 years and was carried out mainly by trackers, rangers, guides, and wardens among others. Others scheduled to attend include students from Ruhengeri schools who will suggest names for the gorillas after consideration from tourism officials.

The tourism body intends to make 25th June an annual day to become a key date on the international conservation calendar.

“It will become an annual day of celebration to reward efforts and devotion of the field staff whose commitment has helped to raise 17% in gorilla population between 1989 and 2003.”

The funds to be raised during the gala diner will support developing projects such as the Volcanoes National Park Discovery Centre that raises awareness amongst the local communities on the benefits of Gorilla Conservation. Others deal in rain water collection to serve the needs of the surrounding communities and construction of stone wall to minimize problems caused by wildlife.

Rwanda has about one third of the total 700 mountain gorilla population left in the World and the country receives over 20,000 visitors every year visiting the creatures which share more than 97% genetic material with human beings.

Only five groups of Mountain Gorillas of Susa, Amahoro A, Amahoro B, Sabyinyo and Group 13 can be visited by tourists in Rwanda. Other three groups namely; Pablo, Shinda and Beetsme are meant for research purposes.