Rwanda has more than twice the number of habituated mountain gorilla groups than Uganda, and each year newborns are given new names in a local ceremony called "Kwita Izina". Luckily, tourists are also welcome.

As a means to conserve and protect the region where the mountain gorillas live, Rwanda Development Board (“RDB”) - Tourism and Conservation launched the first ever public Gorilla Naming Ceremony in 2005 under the theme, "Ensuring the Future of Rwanda’s Mountain Gorillas”.  Since then, RDB-Tourism and Conservation and its partners have successfully held six more ceremonies generating more funding for community projects and awareness of the importance of conservation.

On Saturday, June 16, 2012, RDB will be hosting the eighth annual Kwita Izina - Gorilla Naming Ceremony. At this event, names will be given to 15 baby mountain gorillas at the Volcanoes National Park. The theme for this year is “Sustainable Tourism and Greener Economy”.  Under this theme, Rwanda will celebrate the efforts of all those that have contributed to the welfare of their wildlife and its conservation and ensure continuity of growth in population of the gorillas and tourists while mobilizing efforts towards a greener economy.