A gorilla by any other name

By OSCAR KIMANUKA
oscar_kim2000@yahoo.co.uk

Few events have attracted as much attention in Rwanda recently as has the annual mountain gorilla "Kwita izina" ceremony at Kiningi.

It is not only a national event but an occasion for celebrities and visitors to Rwanda to participate in the gorilla naming ceremony. It is a great way of popularising the importance of the primate in Rwanda's tourism industry.

The gorilla naming ceremony, which started in 2005, is a uniquely Rwandan way of reminding us of our collective responsibility for conserving the mountain gorilla.

The mountain gorilla is also a global cause. As world-respected veterinarian Lucy Spelman once observed, the continued successful preservation of any endangered species is closely linked to human wealth and the welfare of the surrounding population.

Hunting wildlife for game meat and other resources was once a way of life for the communities in the volcanic national park. Many are embracing conservation as a new way of life.

CONSERVATION IS SEEN AS having a direct bearing on tourism and economic benefits for the country. According to the Rwanda Tourism Board, earnings from the tourism sector grew by 18 per cent, from $36 million in 2006 to $42.3 million in 2007.

Tourists visiting the country increased by 26 per cent from 31,000 in 2006 to 39,000 in 2007. The board predicts that by the end of this year the country will have earned $68 million with nearly 50,000 tourists.

THE SUCCESS OF THE KWITA izina event has been made possible through the involvement of the local population, which has shown remarkable participation. The display of handicrafts, their dance and drama are adding value to the annual event.

As the chief park warden indicated, the local population is playing an important role in reporting problems because rangers cannot be everywhere. They participate in patrols and this has helped them to keep the relationship alive.

So while the mountain gorilla has become the jewel in the crown of Rwanda's rapidly expanding tourism industry, the gorilla naming is probably the icing on the cake.




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