World Gorilla Day: A Century of Safeguarding

World Gorilla Day
A Century of Safeguarding

Every year, on September 24th, we are moved to reflect on decades of gorilla conservation in Virunga. This year carries extra special meaning, as the Park marks 100 years since its creation. At the heart of our centenary is the story of the mountain gorillas – a totem of resilience, intelligence, and the quiet strength of collective protection.

This video short, Congo’s Mountain Gorillas, tells the story of those who dedicate their lives to safeguarding around one-third of the world’s mountain gorilla population. Like any important mission that faces obstacles, successful conservation strategies depend on intense cooperation. Sometimes these challenges encourage unlikely alliances between groups that were once opposed to one another.

From the veterinarians who take action when medical intervention is needed, to the former poachers who now serve as guardians of the gorillas and overall biodiversity in the Park – behind every successful step in conservation are the physical footsteps of courageous and committed local communities. The knowledge of gorilla biology and local terrain that diverse actors like these bring has allowed the Park to anticipate risks, witness extraordinary moments like the birth of baby gorillas, and ensure that each gorilla family can flourish in a protected environment.

This project is a stark example of how local cooperation can achieve great feats against the odds. Local communities in and around Virunga work together to ensure that mountain gorillas will be around for decades more to come, and by protecting the animal that is emblematic of the Park, they also contribute to the protection of the place on which so many of their livelihoods depend.