World Gorilla Day

Every year on September 24, World Gorilla Day invites people everywhere to learn about great apes, support conservation, and celebrate the communities working to keep gorillas on the landscape. ¹

History of World Gorilla Day

World Gorilla Day began in 2017 and was intentionally placed on September 24 to honor the day in 1967 when Dian Fossey established the Karisoke Research Center in Rwanda—an anchor for modern gorilla science and protection.

From the start, zoos, parks, and nonprofits turned the observance into something hands-on: keeper talks, school activities, and simple actions ordinary people can take at home. One hallmark is the “Gorillas on the Line…Answer the Call” campaign, which encourages recycling old phones and small electronics to reduce demand for coltan mined in gorilla habitat. ²

Why is World Gorilla Day important?

It shines a light on a family of animals that are both close to us and acutely vulnerable. Habitat loss, poaching, and disease still threaten gorilla populations, so a day that boosts accurate information and practical support is more than symbolic—it’s useful.

The observance also celebrates the people behind every conservation success: rangers on difficult patrols, community partners, researchers, and educators who translate fieldwork into hope. Pausing to recognize that network turns admiration into long-term commitment.

• It puts trustworthy facts ahead of myths.
• It connects home actions with field results.
• It invites kids into conservation with simple, repeatable steps.
• It thanks the rangers and local communities doing the hard work.
• It keeps attention on species that still need it.

Interesting facts about gorillas

• Gorillas share about 98.3% of their DNA with humans. ³
• They are the largest of the great apes—with massive arms, broad chests, and powerful bodies.
• Adult male gorillas develop a sagittal crest on the skull, which serves as the anchor point for strong jaw muscles.
• Mountain gorillas are endangered; there are approximately 1,060–1,100 individuals left in the wild.
• Gorillas are mostly herbivores: their diet consists of leaves, stems, roots, bark, flowers, sometimes fruit; some subspecies also eat insects occasionally.
• Female gorillas do not give birth very often: typically every 3-5 years.
• Gorillas build nests every evening from vegetation to sleep in? usually each individual builds its own nest, except infants, who sleep with mothers.
• The “silverback” in male gorillas refers to the patch of silver‐colored hair on their back which comes in with maturity.

How to celebrate World Gorilla Day

Keep it practical. Spend ten minutes gathering unused phones and gadgets for an e-waste drop-off or mail-in program linked to the “Gorillas on the Line” drive, then share the why with a friend; small piles of electronics add up fast when many people pitch in.

Make it social without pressure. Watch a short talk or doc clip together, choose a reputable group to support, or follow a park or NGO for field updates—Virunga’s ranger stories are an eye-opener. If you travel, pick wildlife experiences that clearly prioritize animal welfare and local communities.

• Recycle an old phone and explain the coltan link.
• Share one verified gorilla fact with a donate link.
• Read a kid-friendly article and map gorilla range together.
• Add September 24 to your calendar so it becomes a ritual.
• Adopt or sponsor through a trusted organization.

World Gorilla Day Dates Table

1. https://www.worldanimalprotection.org/our-campaigns/sentience/animal-awareness-days/world-gorilla-day/[↩]
2. https://gorillafund.org/get-involved/other-ways-to-help/world-gorilla-day/[↩]
3. https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/gorilla[↩]