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 would need our help to survive. Today, the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund is dedicated to continuing and expanding Dian’s work. We protect gorillas and their forests every day, while also helping the people who live near them.
It’s #GorillaGivingTuesday, and we know that we are BETTER TOGETHER. Join our efforts to save a species and donate or start a fundraiser today!
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 Gorilla
Protection
Scientific
Research
Training
Conservationists
Helping
Communities
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Fossey
Fund News:
From the field
Press Release: New study shows mountain gorilla population growth related to group density and female movements
New research from the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, just published in the journal Animal Conservation, analyses more than 50 years …
Students grow trees near gorilla habitat in Rwanda
In the Fossey Fund’s work with student nature clubs in schools near Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, we have found that …
Comparing golden monkeys and gorillas
The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund has been studying gorillas in the wild for more than 55 years now, ever since …
On World Teacher Day: Let us count the ways
As conservationists, scientists, trackers, educators, communicators and other staff here at the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, we are all “teachers” …
Follow Our Journey
Fossey Fund scientist Dr. Yntze van der Hoek and staff photographer Cedric Ujenza from Rwanda joined our regular teams deep in the forests of Congo this week, to observe our Grauer's gorilla protection and research in these truly remote areas. They also started two new studies while there: One will help us learn about food-plant availability for the gorillas and the other will show us how gorillas make their night nests and what they need to do that. These studies will help us learn more about this lesser-known subspecies of gorilla and how best to protect them.
Stay tuned for an inside look at all this and more, coming soon!
Here is mom Kurinda grooming her brand new infant. Grooming helps create a bond between two gorillas, especially mom and baby. They will continue to bond like this for the next three years. Mom will most likely continue to continue to groom them even when they get into their angsty teenager phase 😂#mountaingorillas #nature #conservation
📸: Cedric Ujeneza
🚨The countdown is officially on! 🚨 #GorillaGivingTuesday is November 29th and we need your help saving a species!
Gorillas are so much like us. We share 98% of our DNA with gorillas, but we share 100% of our planet with them. Our efforts to protect gorillas ultimately help save our planet and ourselves.
👉 Start a fundraiser today for gorillas, the planet, and our future. 🦍🌍(LINK IN BIO)
Infant Nshunguye practices her flips and patiently waits as mom Kurudi finds a good snack to eat! #mountaingorillas #nature #conservation
📸: Cedric Ujeneza
Trees are not only good for playing but they are also good for finding a snack and taking a nap! Gorillas utilize the forest in so many ways. Young gorillas, like Uwacu here, use trees a lot for self play. Individual exploration is very important for development in gorillas, young and old! #mountaingorillas #nature #conservation
📸: Cedric Ujeneza
The Tropical Biology Association provides field training to young conservationists. Over the years several Fossey Fund researchers have participated. To name a few: our director Felix Ndagijimana, the senior manager of Biodiversity programs, Deogratias Tuyisingize, Phd and many others. This year our research assistant James Munyawera has been accepted and attended the two week training at Mpala Research Center in Kenya.
"It was an intense training that covered both theory and practice. I developed and presented a research project about dik diks, a very small antelope living in the east and south of Africa. “assessing the effect of human presence on the habituation of these small mammals. I am very happy to have attended this training not only because it has equipped me with more knowledge of a new to me ecosystem but also it has given me an opportunity to increase my network." Congratulations, James! 🥳
We think that infant Nshunguye might need someone to come and groom her with all those leaves in her hair! It seems like no matter what, human or gorilla, babies love to wear their food! #mountaingorillas #nature #conservation
📸: Cedric Ujeneza
Everyone needs a break every now and then, even the babysitter! Here is Agaseke taking her nap while watching infant Nshunguye for mom Kurudi. It does not happen often, but gorilla moms do tend to let either the older siblings or other female gorillas of the group help take care of the babies. It definitely takes a village! #mountaingorillas #nature #conservation
📸: Cedric Ujeneza
I think anyone who is a parent can relate to Ishyaka at this moment! Newborns typically stay with mom the first 3 years of their life. Thankfully for mom, this little one has an older sister, Akariza, who will start to help mom babysit very soon! #mountaingorillas #nature #conservation
📸: Cedric Ujeneza
Another one of our adoptable gorillas, Umukuru, is just hanging out feeding on some Carduus root! Roots are a very big part of the gorilla diet along with leaves, vegetation, and tree bark! Learn more about our symbolic adoption program by checking out the link in our bio. #mountaingorillas #gorilladiet #nature #conservation
📸: Cedric Ujeneza
Fossey Fund President and CEO/Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Tara Stoinski has just been accepted as a Fellow of the famed Explorers Club, following in the footsteps of Dian Fossey and other major leaders in science and exploration from past and present, such as Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Jane Goodall, Neil Armstrong and Charles Lindbergh. Dian Fossey was among the first women to be named to The Explorers Club, in 1981. Congratulations Dr. Stoinski, in joining this incredible and historic group of legendary leaders! @the_explorers_club
Watch closely and you’ll see Kurinda’s new baby 😍 On average, a newborn gorilla weighs about 4 ½ lbs! After they are born, they stick with mom for the first 3 years of their life, the first year being the most critical. #mountaingorillas #nature #conservation
📸: Cedric Ujeneza
Do you think Umukuru could become an ASMR influencer? Just listen to those crunchy sounds👂What are your favorite foods? 😋 #nature #conservation #mountaingorillas
📸: Cedric Ujeneza
Who wouldn’t want this goofy gorilla to be a part of their family? When you symbolically adopt a gorilla like Uwacu, you are helping protect generations of gorillas to come! You also get a pretty cool adoption certificate. Head to the link in our bio to adopt Uwacu today! #mountaingorillas #nature #conservation
📸: Cedric Ujeneza
