This Year’s Gorilla Babies
At the 21st Kwita Izina Gorilla Naming Ceremony, Rwanda celebrated and named the newest members of its mountain gorilla families.
Each baby represented new life and continued hope for the future of mountain gorilla conservation. Their births reflected the dedication of communities, park rangers, researchers, veterinarians and conservation partners who work year-round to protect mountain gorillas and their habitat.
The babies’ names and their meanings, together with the distinguished Namers selected to name them, were revealed during the ceremony on 4 September 2026 at the foothills of Volcanoes National Park.
Mother: INKUBITO
Group: MUHOZA
Date of birth: 1-Apr-25
Sex: Female
Baby's name: Ishakwe
Mother: MUHABURA
Group: IZUBA
Date of birth: 20-Jun-25
Sex: Male
Baby's name: Mukondo
Mother: NZERI
Group: MUTOBO
Date of birth: 19-Jun-25
Baby's name: Komezutsinde
Mother: TURIMASO
Group: SUSA
Date of birth: 3-Jul-25
Sex: Male
Baby's name: Shikama
Mother: NEZERWA
Group: IZUBA
Date of birth: 12-May-26
Baby's name: Nkwakuzi
Mother: IMPUHWE
Group: HUMURA
Date of birth: 21-Jul-25
Sex: Male
Baby's name: Tarama
Mother: URURABO
Group: HUMURA
Date of birth: 28-Jul-25
Sex: Female
Baby's name: Bukaka
Mother: ISANGANO
Group: PABLO
Date of birth: 31-Jul-25
Sex: Male
Baby's name: Inkera
Mother: MBELE
Group: IZUBA
Date of birth: 9-Aug-25
Sex: Male
Baby's name: Ruhembe
Mother: GWANEZA
Group: HIRWA
Date of birth: 8-Sep-25
Sex: Male
Baby's name: Rugamba
Mother: ISARO
Group: MUSILIKALE
Date of birth: 26-Sep-25
Sex: Male
Baby's name: Ndongozi
Mother: TURIHO
Group: Muhoza
Date of birth: 8-Oct-25
Sex: Male
Baby's name: Muhuza
Mother: INKUNGA
Group: IZUBA
Date of birth: 9-Oct-25
Baby's name: Impeta
Mother: URAHIRWA
Group: NTAMBARA
Date of birth: 14-Oct-25
Sex: Male
Baby's name: Mucyo
Mother: TETA
Group: PABLO
Date of birth: 11-Nov-25
Sex: Female
Baby's name: Mpinga
Mother: NTAMUPAKA
Group: Kwisanga
Date of birth: 5-Dec-25
Sex: Female
Baby's name: Kambere
Mother: UKWIYUNGA
Group: SEGASIRA
Date of birth: 28-Dec-25
Sex: Male
Baby's name: Ngabonzima
Mother: BUKIMA
Group: MUSILIKALE
Date of birth: 28-Dec-25
Baby's name: Ndahiro
Mother: INGEMWE
Group: ISIMBI
Date of birth: 12-Jan-26
Sex: Male
Mother: INTANGO
Group: MUHOZA
Date of birth: 27-Jan-26
Sex: Male
Mother: TABARO
Group: MUSILIKALE
Date of birth: 15-Mar-26
Sex: -
Mother: MAFUBO
Group: IZUBA
Date of birth: 20-Mar-26
Sex: -
Mother: NTIBISANZWE
Group: KWITONDA
Date of birth: 21-Mar-26
Sex: Male
Mother: ISIMBI
Group: UMUBANO
Date of birth: 15-Apr-26
Sex: -
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