World Gorilla Day is an annual, globally recognized observance dedicated to focusing attention on the conservation status of one of humanity’s closest living relatives. This day serves as a rallying point for conservationists, researchers, and the public to acknowledge the threats facing gorilla populations across Central Africa. The observance highlights the need for sustained protection efforts and encourages investment in the communities that share their habitat with these great apes. The event aims to transform knowledge about their plight into active support for their survival in the wild.
The Official Date and Origin
World Gorilla Day is observed every year on September 24th. This date commemorates a significant moment in gorilla conservation history: the day in 1967 when primatologist Dian Fossey established the Karisoke Research Center in the Virunga Mountains of Rwanda. The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International established the annual observance in 2017 to honor her legacy and the 50th anniversary of the center’s founding. The day unifies global efforts and raises awareness for the species Fossey dedicated her life to protecting.
The Four Gorilla Subspecies
Gorillas are divided into two species, the Eastern Gorilla and the Western Gorilla, which are categorized into four subspecies. The Western Lowland Gorilla inhabits lowland forests across countries like Cameroon, Gabon, and the Republic of Congo. Though they are the most numerous subspecies, they are classified as Critically Endangered. The Cross River Gorilla, found only on the border of Nigeria and Cameroon, is the rarest, with fewer than 300 individuals remaining, and is also Critically Endangered.
The Eastern Gorilla species includes the Eastern Lowland Gorilla (Grauer’s Gorilla), found only in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which has seen a population decline in recent decades. The Mountain Gorilla, studied by Dian Fossey, lives in the high-altitude forests of the Virunga Massif and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, spread across Uganda, Rwanda, and the DRC. Conservation efforts have led to an increase in their numbers to over 1,000 individuals, but they remain classified as Endangered.
Primary Threats Facing Gorillas
The urgency behind World Gorilla Day stems from the threats that continue to decimate gorilla populations. One significant danger is the widespread loss and fragmentation of their forest habitat. This destruction is driven by human activities like commercial logging, the expansion of agriculture, and illegal mining, which often involves the extraction of minerals like coltan used in electronics. Road construction to support these industries further breaks up the forests, isolating gorilla groups and making them susceptible to other threats.
Illegal hunting and the wildlife trade, primarily for bushmeat, represent a major pressure on all four subspecies. Gorillas are sometimes targeted directly, but they are frequently caught in snares and traps intended for other animals, leading to injury or death. This practice, along with the illegal capture of infants for the pet trade, destabilizes the social structures of gorilla family units.
Disease transmission poses a threat because gorillas share genetic similarity with humans, making them vulnerable to many of the same pathogens. Outbreaks of the Ebola virus have caused mortality events, wiping out an estimated 90 to 95 percent of Western Lowland Gorillas in some affected areas. Respiratory illnesses that are mild in humans can also be lethal to gorillas, especially as human encroachment increases the frequency of close contact.
Ways to Observe World Gorilla Day
The annual observance provides ways for individuals to contribute to gorilla conservation. Supporting reputable organizations, such as the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund or local African conservation groups, offers direct financial aid for anti-poaching patrols and community development programs. Educating oneself and others about the challenges faced by these primates is an impactful action, which can be done by sharing accurate information on social media or in local communities.
Consumers can make informed choices to reduce the demand for products that drive habitat destruction. Participating in mobile phone recycling programs helps decrease the need for newly mined coltan, a mineral often extracted in sensitive gorilla habitats in the DRC. Individuals may also choose to support accredited zoos that participate in the Gorilla Species Survival Plan, or plan a responsible, conservation-focused trekking safari to gorilla habitats.