Rewild Grauer's Gorillas
GRACE operates a safe refuge at our sanctuary for Grauer’s gorillas rescued from the illegal wildlife trade.
We are pioneering methods to safely rewild these gorillas.
Grauer’s gorillas are critically endangered, with only 6,800 remaining in the wild. The illegal wildlife trade, poaching, and habitat loss are significant threats to these gorillas that are only found in a limited range in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Since 2008, we have operated the only sanctuary offering hope and refuge to rescued Grauer’s gorillas.
We are actively exploring and pioneering methods to return rescued gorillas to wild forests where they belong.
GRACE Aspirations for Rewilding Gorillas
We believe every Grauer’s gorilla matters.
We work to understand, protect, and increase Grauer’s gorilla numbers in the wild.
We seek a conservation model that allows communities, biodiversity, and forests to flourish.
Focus Projects
Rescue
Our Congolese team manages an award-winning sanctuary for Grauer’s gorillas that is accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries.
The GRACE sanctuary supports the national wildlife authority, Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN), to combat the illegal wildlife trade by providing a home for confiscated gorillas.
Meet the Gorillas
Every gorilla at GRACE has their own story of resiliency. Each one suffered the trauma of losing their families, and each went on to heal, grow, and eventually thrive at the GRACE sanctuary.
Rehabilitating Gorillas
Rescued gorillas arrive at GRACE traumatized and in poor health. They are assigned special caregivers around the clock until they are strong and healthy and ready to meet their surrogate gorilla family.
GRACE employs a large team of highly skilled Congolese caregivers who dedicate their lives to rescued Grauer’s gorillas. This award-winning team is supported by a world-class group of expert animal-care advisors.
Watch this heartwarming 22-minute documentary detailing the rehabilitation of our youngest gorilla – Lulingu.
Rewilding Gorillas
Rewilding gorillas is complex and difficult. Nonetheless, GRACE continues to work toward our goal of releasing healthy gorillas back into the wild.
GRACE is working with a global panel of expert advisors and Congolese partners to move toward rewilding the sanctuary gorillas utilizing the IUCN Ape Release Guidelines.
We are moving slowly and carefully, with the welfare of the gorillas being our top concern. We will not release any unless there is a great chance for a successful outcome.
The Plight of Grauer’s Gorillas
Just 6,800 Grauer’s gorillas are thought to exist in the wild today. Their numbers have plummeted over the last 20 years. They are classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as critically endangered.
Their endemic range is eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a hotspot for biodiversity. Unfortunately, their range coincides with an area of insecurity and economic challenges.
The main threat to Grauer’s gorillas is hunting for bushmeat.
Facts
- There are 2 species of gorilla – western (Gorilla gorilla) and eastern (Gorilla beringei). These are further divided into 4 sub-species: western lowland (Gorilla gorilla gorilla); Cross River (Gorilla gorilla dielhi); mountain (Gorilla beringei beringei); and eastern lowland, also known as Grauer’s (Gorilla beringei graueri).
- Gorillas spend the first 3 years of their life close to their mother, learning what to eat, how to make a nest, and how to behave as a young member of a family.
- Grauer’s gorillas are sometimes called the Pride of the Congo because they are only found in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
- Gorillas use vegetation to make a nest to sleep in each night. Young gorillas will share a nest with their mother until they are old enough to make a nest on their own.
- Silverback gorillas are the male leaders of the group. They are responsible for protection of the family and guiding the daily movements of the group, but they also regularly engage in play with the infants and other young family members.