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Causes: Animals, Environment, Forest Conservation, Natural Resources Conservation & Protection, Protection of Endangered Species
Mission:
The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund saves gorillas and the ecosystems in which they live through a scientific and people-centered approach to create a healthier planet for all.
In September 1967, Dian Fossey founded the Karisoke Research Center with the goal of monitoring and protecting mountain gorillas in Rwanda. Karisoke originally was just two tents that Dr. Fossey set up near the forest, but today Karisoke lives on through our purpose built Ellen DeGeneres Campus.
Fossey’s original goal was to study the gorillas’ behavior and ecology, but she soon saw they were in dire need of protection as well. Her prediction at the time was that the species would be extinct within a decade. Almost 60 years later, mountain gorillas are thriving, thanks to the daily protection that is now provided. Using the techniques of intense conservation that Dian Fossey developed and promoted, we have so far prevented extinction of the mountain gorilla.
Saving gorillas is an important mission, but the value of this work is even more far reaching. When gorillas are protected, so are their important forest habitats, which are important ecosystems that support our planet and all life on earth.
Our holistic conservation efforts also directly help people and communities, improving the health and livelihoods of people who live near the gorillas, and helping to build the next generation of conservationists in Africa.
Target demographics: to save wild gorillas, the biodiversity that share their forest home and their critical habitats
Direct beneficiaries per year: tens of thousands of local individuals, protected hundreds of thousands of acres of pristine tropical rainforest and provided direct protection to thousands of gorillas across Rwanda and the DRC
Geographic areas served: the forests of Rwanda and the DRC
Programs: Founded by the legendary Dian Fossey, our mission began in the mountains of Rwanda, monitoring and protecting mountain gorillas. Today, it spans borders—reaching deep into the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where we protect one of the most at-risk gorilla populations on Earth – the Grauers’ gorillas. Because when we save gorillas, we’re also helping people—and protecting the future of our shared planet. Our work is built on four core pillars: protecting gorillas, conducting critical science, creating conservationists and building resilient communities, all grounded at our Ellen DeGeneres Campus in Rwanda and our Nkuba Conservation Area in Congo.
Saving endangered gorillas is certainly a good cause, but DFGFI has an annoying habit of sending a lot of appeals for more money. I get something in the mail from them it seems like every month, even after I've sent my annual donation. I would prefer that this charity spend less on paper and postage and more on the gorillas themselves.
Review from CharityNavigator
