Fifty-seven years ago, Dian Fossey began her courageous work studying mountain gorillas in Rwanda. Because of their meager population size in 1967, no one – not even Dian herself – could have predicted how these groundbreaking efforts would lead to one of the greatest and most remarkable conservation successes in history: the survival of mountain gorillas.
And while we are so thankful to Dian Fossey for what she began, our job is far from done: there are still only 1,000 mountain gorillas left on the planet, and they are currently facing the largest snare crisis in more than 20 years. And Grauer’s gorillas, which we monitor and protect in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), have tragically lost 60% of their population in recent decades. Their conservation is now also being threatened by escalating civil unrest, which makes our work more difficult, more dangerous and more expensive. As you can see, much of the breaking news we are receiving from the field – in Rwanda AND the DRC – is dire.
It’s easy to become discouraged by the reality we are facing. But, we have to remember how far gorillas have come. Dian Fossey herself predicted that the majestic mountain gorillas would be extinct by the year 2000. Yet, fast forward to today, they are now the only great ape species on the planet increasing in number. It is for this reason – among so many others – that we can find joy this World Gorilla Day, September 24.
World Gorilla Day is a celebration of Dian’s work and gorillas worldwide! And today, we invite you to participate with us!
Donate in a tangible way! Whether you choose to help fund a tent for a tracker or a student trip to our Ellen Campus, your money will go where it is needed most.
While World Gorilla Day is a celebration, it’s also a call to action amidst a conservation crisis. Remember, we can’t do this work in isolation, it needs all of us! So today, I want to ask you: will you take action to save gorillas?
Saving gorillas together,
Dr. Tara Stoinski
President & CEO/Chief Scientific Officer
