World Gorilla Day
September 24
About World Gorilla Day
World Gorilla Day takes place every year on 24 September. It is a global day of awareness dedicated to protecting gorillas and their forest habitats, encouraging people everywhere to learn about these great apes and support the conservation work keeping them from extinction. In 2026 it falls on Thursday, 24 September.
What is World Gorilla Day?
World Gorilla Day is an annual awareness day that celebrates gorillas and rallies support for their protection. It was established by the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, the world’s longest-running organisation dedicated solely to gorilla conservation. The day brings together zoos, conservation charities, schools, national parks and the wider public to raise funds, share knowledge and highlight the threats facing all four gorilla subspecies. Its purpose is straightforward: to ensure gorillas have a future in the wild.
When is World Gorilla Day?
World Gorilla Day is held on 24 September every year. The date is fixed and does not change, so in 2026 it falls on Thursday, 24 September. The date was chosen deliberately: it marks the anniversary of the founding of the Karisoke Research Center by primatologist Dian Fossey on 24 September 1967, in the mountains of Rwanda.
Why World Gorilla Day Matters
Gorillas are among our closest living relatives, sharing roughly 98 per cent of their DNA with humans, yet every subspecies is threatened with extinction. Mountain gorillas, perhaps the best-known group, were reduced to as few as 254 individuals in 1981. Decades of intensive protection have since lifted that population to more than 1,000, allowing the IUCN to downgrade their status from “Critically Endangered” to “Endangered” in 2018. It remains the only great ape population in the world that is growing.
That recovery is fragile and the wider picture is sobering. Other gorillas, including the Cross River gorilla and the Eastern lowland (Grauer’s) gorilla, remain critically endangered, with some populations having fallen sharply due to poaching, habitat loss and disease. World Gorilla Day exists to keep public attention and funding focused on the work that makes recovery possible, from anti-poaching patrols and snare removal to community partnerships and veterinary care.
How to Get Involved in World Gorilla Day
There are many ways to mark the day, whether you have five minutes or want to make a longer-term commitment.
- Donate to a conservation charity – Organisations such as the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund rely on public support to fund rangers, trackers and veterinary teams in the field.
- Symbolically adopt a gorilla – Many charities offer symbolic adoptions, which fund protection efforts and often come with updates on a named gorilla or family group.
- Recycle your old electronics – Mobile phones and small devices contain coltan, mined in gorilla habitat. Recycling them reduces demand and protects forests.
- Visit a participating zoo – Many zoos run special World Gorilla Day events, talks and activities that fund in-situ conservation.
- Spread the word online – Share facts and links using #WorldGorillaDay to reach people who may never have considered the cause.
- Learn about Dian Fossey – Reading her book “Gorillas in the Mist” or watching documentaries about her work brings the story to life.
- Host a fundraiser – A bake sale, sponsored walk or workplace dress-down day can raise meaningful sums for gorilla protection.
- Choose sustainable products – Supporting responsibly sourced wood, paper and palm oil helps reduce pressure on the forests gorillas depend on.
History of World Gorilla Day
World Gorilla Day was launched in 2017 by the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund to coincide with the fiftieth anniversary of the Karisoke Research Center. Dian Fossey, an American primatologist, founded Karisoke high in Rwanda’s Virunga mountains on 24 September 1967. Over nearly two decades she transformed scientific understanding of mountain gorillas and became one of the most prominent voices in their defence, campaigning against poaching until her murder in 1985.
The Fund she inspired chose her founding date as the focal point for a worldwide day of action, hoping to turn growing public affection for gorillas into practical, sustained support. The timing was apt: by 2017 mountain gorilla numbers were climbing steadily, offering a rare conservation success story to build a campaign around.
Since its launch, World Gorilla Day has grown into an international event observed by zoos, schools, sanctuaries and conservation groups across the globe. It now serves as both a celebration of progress and a reminder that the work is far from finished, particularly for the critically endangered gorilla populations that have not enjoyed the same recovery.
Noteworthy Facts About World Gorilla Day
- The day commemorates 24 September 1967, when Dian Fossey founded the Karisoke Research Center in Rwanda.
- It was first observed in 2017, marking Karisoke’s fiftieth anniversary.
- Gorillas share around 98 per cent of their DNA with humans.
- Mountain gorillas are the only great ape population whose numbers are currently increasing in the wild.
- There are two gorilla species, Eastern and Western, divided into four subspecies, several of which remain critically endangered.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is World Gorilla Day?
World Gorilla Day is an annual awareness day on 24 September that celebrates gorillas and raises funds and support for protecting them and their habitats. It was created by the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.
When is World Gorilla Day in 2026?
World Gorilla Day falls on Thursday, 24 September 2026. The date is fixed and is observed on the same day every year.
Why is World Gorilla Day on 24 September?
The date marks the anniversary of the day Dian Fossey founded the Karisoke Research Center in Rwanda in 1967, the institution from which much of modern gorilla conservation grew.
Spread the Word
Help raise awareness by sharing World Gorilla Day with your friends, family and followers. Use the hashtags #WorldGorillaDay and #WorldGorillaDay2026 on social media. The more people who know about World Gorilla Day, the bigger the impact. If you enjoy supporting wildlife causes, you might also mark World Chimpanzee Day earlier in the year, which champions another of our closest great ape relatives.
Related Awareness Days
- International Primate Day – Held on 1 September, it celebrates all primates and the conservation challenges they face.
- World Chimpanzee Day – Honours chimpanzees and the legacy of researchers who brought their plight to global attention.
- World Elephant Day – Another flagship species day dedicated to protecting endangered wildlife from poaching and habitat loss.
Links
- Visit the official World Gorilla Day page at the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund
- Explore more awareness days at AwarenessDays.com
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