Since its establishment in Rwanda by Dr. Dian Fossey in September 1967, the Karisoke Research Center, has been the centerpiece for Karisoke mountain gorilla research and conservation in the Virunga mountain region. Now, four decades later, Karisoke has produced an unequaled amount of information about the mountain gorillas and their habitat, and provides daily protection for the mountain gorillas.
Although original Karisoke structures were destroyed during civil unrest in the 1990s, its programs today are carried out from DFGFI's facilities in Musanze (formerly Ruhengeri), a town near the Volcanoes National Park, as well as in various outposts closer to and within the park, and in other locations.
Learn more about our history by going to the 40-year anniversary overview page.
Today at Karisoke we are engaged in extensive daily protection and monitoring of the mountain gorillas, numerous science and research projects, various education initiatives, and community health and development projects.
