Gorillas baptised in Rwanda
2008-06-23 09:55
Kigali - Twenty baby gorillas were "baptised" in Rwanda, a ceremony seen as a way to raise awareness of the threats facing the endangered species, Rwandan radio said on Sunday.
The babies were represented by 20 figurines in Saturday's ceremony, attended by Rwanda's first lady Jeannette Kagame, on the edge of Volcano national park where the gorillas live.
It "shows how important gorillas are for Rwanda and how important their protection is", the radio station said, citing Rosette Chantal Rugamba, head of the Rwandan Tourist and National Parks Office.
The ceremony was the fourth of its kind in Rwanda in as many years. A total of 85 gorillas have been baptised and officially received a name so far.
Rwanda's gorillas mainly live in the mountains straddling the border between the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda.
- AFP