News Item

United Nations Year of the Gorilla (YoG)

January 2009

The Year of the Gorilla (YoG) is a joint initiative of UNEP Convention of Migrator Species (CMS), the UNEP/UNESCO Great Ape Survival Partnership (GRASP) and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA).  The objectives are to raise awareness, focus on education and to fund field conservation projects in Africa.

The gorilla is found only in the forests of Africa  - all 4 sub species are endangered. Numbers continue to fall due to deforestation, mining, bushmeat and war.

The Jane Goodall Institute in Australia is committed to raising awareness of another great ape, the gorilla and raise funds to assist in the conservation of this majestic creature.

The Jane Goodall Institute, in collaboration with the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International (DFGFI), will employ, feed and clothe 300 park rangers to patrol the Maiko National Park in Congo. The endangered gorilla will be kept safe from harm, and also ensure the safety of many other endangered animals that share the forest with the gorillas - these include the endangered chimpanzee, forest elephant and okapi to name a few.

For further enquiries on YoG, please contact polly.cevallos@janegoodall.org.au and for Roots & Shoots involvement in YoG please contact annette.debenham@janegoodall.org.au.

- Click here for more information on the Year of the Gorilla.

- Download the new WAZA/IZE Gorilla Education Manual (Release Feb 2009, pdf file 5MB).

- Download the Year of the Gorilla leaflet (pdf file 2MB).

- Download the Jane Goodall Institute of Australia Year of the Gorilla project story (pdf file 110KB).