Rwanda is set to name 22 baby mountain gorillas during this year’s Kwita Izina ceremony, a flagship conservation event scheduled to take place in Kinigi, Musanze District, on Friday, September 4, 2026.
The ceremony will bring together conservationists, government officials, tourism stakeholders, researchers, local communities and international guests to celebrate Rwanda’s ongoing efforts to protect the endangered mountain gorilla population.
The 22 gorilla infants will join a growing list of mountain gorillas that have been given names since the annual naming ceremony was launched.
According to Eugène Mutangana, Executive Director of the Rwanda Nature Foundation, a total of 438 baby gorillas have been named since the initiative began.
Mutangana disclosed the figures during a press briefing held on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, as Rwanda prepares for the upcoming edition of Kwita Izina.
“This year, 22 baby gorillas will be given names, bringing the total number of gorillas named since the beginning of Kwita Izina to 438,” Mutangana said.
The annual ceremony has become an important platform for highlighting Rwanda’s conservation achievements while drawing attention to the importance of protecting mountain gorillas and their fragile habitat.
Mountain gorillas are found only in the Virunga Massif, a transboundary ecosystem shared by Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park forms part of this ecosystem and is home to a significant portion of the world’s remaining mountain gorilla population.
The naming tradition is intended to strengthen the connection between conservation and communities while recognizing individuals and organisations that have contributed to the protection of the species.
Beyond celebrating newly born gorillas, Kwita Izina has also evolved into a broader conservation and tourism platform, providing an opportunity to discuss wildlife protection, sustainable tourism, scientific research and the role of communities living around protected areas.
Rwanda has invested heavily in mountain gorilla conservation, including veterinary care, monitoring, anti-poaching measures, habitat protection and community development programmes.
These efforts have contributed to the recovery of the mountain gorilla population, which was once considered at severe risk of extinction.
The 2026 ceremony will therefore not only mark the naming of the 22 newborn gorillas but will also serve as a celebration of the progress made in protecting one of the world’s most iconic and endangered species.
With the total number of named gorillas expected to reach 460 after this year’s ceremony, Rwanda continues to use Kwita Izina to showcase its commitment to wildlife conservation and to encourage greater cooperation in safeguarding the Virunga ecosystem.
