World Gorilla Day

What Is World Gorilla Day?

September 24 is World Gorilla Day, an observance established in 2017 by the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, an organization dedicated to gorilla conservation.

Launched to Mark a Research Center's 50th Anniversary

World Gorilla Day traces its origin to a milestone at a research facility that has shaped decades of gorilla study.

• Origin: Established by the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund
• Occasion: Launched in 2017 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Karisoke Research Center, founded on September 24, 1967
• Purpose: To raise awareness of gorilla conservation and the protection of their habitats

Karisoke: The Foundation of Mountain Gorilla Research

The Karisoke Research Center, founded by American primatologist Dian Fossey in Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park, has served as a base for studying and protecting mountain gorillas. Its name combines the names of two nearby mountains, Karisimbi and Bisoke. Decades of accumulated research there have underpinned conservation efforts for a species once on the brink of extinction. World Gorilla Day shines a light on that quiet, sustained work.

How to Spend the Day

• Learn about gorilla ecology and their natural habitats
• Read about Dian Fossey's work and legacy
• Visit a zoo and observe gorillas up close
• Discover organizations working to protect wildlife

Protecting a Neighbor Species and Its Future

World Gorilla Day is an observance that invites people around the world to share concern for gorillas facing the threat of extinction. September 24 is a day to turn your thoughts toward the gorillas living in Africa's distant forests.