Gikundiro, Akarabo, Umutungo, Ndizeye, Ihoho, Ishimwe, Icyeza, Impano, Kataaza, Turimbere, Iwacu, Duhirwe, Ijabo among other names were given to 19 gorilla babies last year in Musanze district, Northern Province.
The gorilla naming ceremony is an yearly events that has a noble meaning.But why do Rwandans name these high mountains living beasts?
There is unique and noble reason for that: They are a reliable and a precious source of money.
Gorillas are Rwandan golden wealth.
The gorillas based tourism has brought to Rwandan treasury over $ 282 million in 2012 with a remarkable increase of $440 Million in 2013.
Different nations in the world have beautiful and attractive national parks full of animals, colorful birds and huge trees but Rwanda has a God-given beauty and wealth, namely our lovely mountain gorillas.
In the past, gorillas were endangered to be extincted as written by an American researcher Diane Fossey locally known as Nyiramacibiri. At the time Rwanda had only 150 mountain gorillas.
To prevent the extinction of the gorillas, Diane Fossey established a research center called Karisoke Research Center to learn on how all gorillas living in Rwanda, Uganda and in DRC former Zaire can be saved.
In 1978 , Diane Fossey opposed people sent by the German government to steal two gorilla babies and bring them to Cologne Zoo in Germany. Robbers managed to bring the babies in Germany after killing their parents.
Diane Fossey remained with the wounded parents of the stolen babies to heal their wounds.
Unfortunately the babies, Coco and Purker died afterwards due to unfavorable living conditions in Cologne Zoo.
The efforts of Diane Fossey bore fruits as the world realized the wealthy value of the gorillas that are uniquely available in this volcanoes situated region of Africa.
A significant inflow of tourists in the park has increased even if the war hindered them from keeping visiting wonderful gorillas.
After the genocide in 1994, government had other priorities to deal with rather than gorillas but the situation has changed at an extent that even the President of the republic currently attends the naming ceremonies that takes place every year in the North Province, in Musanze District.
The gorillas in Birunga are given remarkable care as to know all of their daily living conditions. Rwandan government bodies in charge of caring about the gorillas work closely as to make sure the gorillas live in harmony with their needs.
Rwandan Development Board strives to provide all necessary technical, personnel and financial equipment as to help gorillas feel comfortable and attract as many tourists as possible.
Rwanda hosts more than 1000 gorillas that keep increasing in number. Biologists affirm these animals can only be found in our region as they have been extincted in other regions of the globe.
The noble reason that Rwanda names its gorilla babies lies in its commitment to protect its natural wealth namely gorillas, among others.
UM– USEKE.RW
