Helping
Saving
Gorillas are beautiful, resilient animals. But poaching and habitat destruction have pushed their populations to the brink of extinction in recent decades.
Our brave founder, Dian Fossey, knew that gorillas need human help to survive the future. Today, the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund is dedicated to continuing Dian Fossey’s work to protect gorillas while helping and educating the people who live near them.
Dian Fossey:
A Conservation Pioneer
Dian Fossey’s work to study and protect the lives of the wild gorillas in Rwanda touched the hearts of people around the world. Her focus, courage and passion have inspired many conservationists who have followed since. And her legacy lives on today, in the gorilla protection, science, education and people programs of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.
What We Do
Daily
Protection
Scientific
Research
Training
Conservationists
Helping
Communities
Fossey
Fund News
Two Weeks in the Forest: Congolese Students Join Us in Nkuba
Earlier this year, 10 Congolese university students joined us at our base in Nkuba to get first-hand experience in the …
New Study Suggests There May be More Grauer’s Gorillas Than Previously Estimated
A study released this week updates the estimated number of Grauer’s gorillas remaining on the planet. The study, led by …
Conservation Success Leads to New Challenges for Endangered Mountain Gorillas
Scientists from around the world, including at the Fossey Fund, participated in this species-wide survey of parasite infections across the …
Counting Birds to Save Gorillas: How Citizen Scientists Protect Gorilla Habitat
Gorillas will always be nearest to our hearts, of course, but every year on Global Big Day, we turn our …
Follow Our Journey
Urbain Ngobobo. Check out our very own Urbain Ngobobo, our Congo Director, who was featured in @discoveryplus and @theellenfund documentary Endangered, on @theellenshow 👏👏 We are so grateful for our teams in the DRC that are working so hard to save the critically endangered Grauer’s gorillas 🦍
35 year old Nzeli is the third oldest female that we monitor. She was born in 1985 into Susa's group and since then she has been one of the females who has transferred groups the most. She is currently keeping herself very busy raising her 8 month old infant in Kureba's group. How cute is he ☺️⠀
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📸: Jean De Dieu Tuyizere
🚨 New Adoptions🚨 Kurinda, a female gorilla in Ntambara’s group, is mom to adoptable 2-year-old infant Bisoke. A typical infant, Bisoke has lots of energy and is always hanging around and playing with other infants in the group. She is always the center of entertainment for the group.
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When you symbolically adopt a gorilla, you are ensuring our 53+ years of work continues for generations to come! (link in bio)
Macibiri is a well known juvenile gorilla that we study! She is 4 years old and will be turning 5 in August. She used to be the only infant in her group, but now she has a new sibling that was born on April 18th! Macibiri was named after Dian Fossey’s nickname in the Kinyarwanda language, Nyiramacibiri, meaning “woman who lives alone on the mountain.”
🚨 New Adoptions 🚨 2-year-old Igitego was born to mom Pasika on July 5, 2019, more than a year after she moved to Mafunzo’s group. His name, which means goal/score, was picked by ⚽️ player @auba from @arsenal and was chosen because gorillas are considered a winning element of Rwanda’s development due to the attention they draw to the country’s conservation efforts and tourism industry.
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When you symbolically adopt a gorilla, you are ensuring our 53+ years of work continues for generations to come! (link in bio)
🚨 NEW ADOPTIONS 🚨 Even though it may look like silverback Ishavu and his son Karame are playing hide and seek, they are actually hiding from the rain under a huge Hagenia tree! How sweet is it that Karame is snuggled up near his giant father to stay warm! ⠀
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Ishavu and Karame are our newest father/son adoption pair and are available online! (link in bio)�⠀
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📸: Jean De Dieu Tuyizere
Our face when we realize we scheduled an early morning meeting…. ON A MONDAY 😫⠀
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📸: Samedi Jean Pierre Mucyo
Happy #fathersday 🎉 Looking to find a way to celebrate your dad and make a difference all at the same time? A great way to celebrate the dads in your life is to adopt Ishavu and his son Karame! They are our brand new adoptable father and son pair. When you symbolically adopt a gorilla, you are ensuring that gorillas are around for generations to come! https://gorillafund.org/adopt/ (link in bio)
Still looking for that perfect gift for the dads in your life? WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED 👍�⠀
Give a gift that makes a difference when you give a symbolic gorilla adoption for Father’s Day! (link in bio)⠀
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📸: Samedi Jean Pierre Mucyo
Happy father's day to the most successful of our silverbacks, Musilikale. He has 10 😳 kids ranging from just a few months old to 6 years old! His most recent infant was born just this February! Musilikale is a proud dad and protector of his growing group, which is now at 22 gorillas! #fathersday
Mutobu is an awesome silverback dad! He formed his group 2 years ago and has since grown it to 9 gorillas, 2 of which are 1 year old infants! He is a great leader and very patient with his little ones ☺️ #fathersday
Happy Birthday to the silverback with some of the most epic facial expressions… Mafunzo! P.S. He also happens to be one of the largest silverbacks we study! 🎉 🎊 🎁
🚨 JUST RELEASED 🚨 Our new gorilla adoptions are now available and just in time for Father’s Day 😉 Symbolic adoptions make great gifts for dad and make a difference! Give the dads in your life a gift that changes the world! 🌍 (link in bio)⠀
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📸: Honorine Ihimbazwe
Life as an infant gorilla can sometimes be a balancing act 😂 especially when your mom wants to play with her friends! Hold on tight!
📸: James Munyawera
