Presentation by Ms. Keiko Mori, a gorilla photographer, and reception at the Ambassador's Residence
On July 26th (Fri), the Embassy of Japan in Rwanda welcomed Ms. Keiko Mori who is a Gorilla photographer to the Ambassador’s Residence. She gave a presentation about mountain gorillas and attended the reception thereafter. A lot of Japanese residents including from JICA and Japanese companies in Rwanda participated and enjoyed the event.
(Ambssador's wife, Ms. Mori Keiko, Ambassador)
Ms. Keiko Mori used to make documentary shows about large mammals around the world. In 2008, she became fascinated by mountain gorillas and since then she often visits Rwanda and stays several months in the mountain to take gorillas’ pictures and videos.
The photos taken by Ms. Mori are used for posters of “Gorilla Naming Ceremony” held in Musanze every year, and other official purposes in Rwanda.
(Ms. Mori, giving a gorilla presentation)
Currently, there are only about 1,000 mountain gorillas in total living in DRC, Uganda, and Rwanda. Until last year, they had been designated as critically endangered species. In order to protect the Mountain Gorillas, Rwanda started to take several actions such as returning the profit of gorilla tourism to their habitat, training groups of veterinarians who help trapped gorilla, constructing gorilla research facilities, and expanding the volcanoes national park to protect their habitat. Today, due to these actions of the Government of Rwanda, the number of mountain gorillas has increased and they have been regarded as endangered species.