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Rwanda Names Baby Gorillas on World Environment Day


Rwanda marked World Environment Day Saturday with a ceremony to name endangered baby mountain gorillas.

American actor Don Cheadle announced during the traditional Kwita Izina ceremony at Volcanoes National Park that one of the baby gorillas will be named "Zoya", which refers to "life" and "light" in several languages. The United Nations Environment Program (or UNEP) says it was chosen by 3,400 Internet users around the world.

Chinese wildlife photographer Luo Hong announced that another baby gorilla will be named "WakaWaka", which means "to light up" in Swahili. UNEP says that name was selected in an online competition by children around the world.

The United Nations also says this year's World Environment Day raised $85,000 for gorilla conservation.

About half of the world's mountain gorillas are said to live in Volcanoes National Park, which is located on the border between Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The United Nations says villagers and school children across Rwanda will also receive solar lighting systems.

Some information for this report provided by AFP.

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