World Gorilla Day, 24 September 2025

This World Gorilla Day, learn more about these incredible apes and what you can do to help them.

Adopt a gorilla

On this day we celebrate Gorillas!

To coincide with World Gorilla Day, we’d like to invite you to get to know more about these amazing apes.

Forest findings: Latest from the great gorilla count

Would you accept the challenge of surveying an entire forest – on foot – searching for signs of mountain gorillas? On 21 April, teams entered in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park to do just that.

Six teams, comprising two trackers, a ranger, and one or two data recorders, began moving on foot through Bwindi, looking for indications of mountain gorilla presence: fresh dung and nesting sites.

The census is the first in 7 years and will inform the global population of mountain gorillas. This is essential to understand the effectiveness of current conservation measures and inform future efforts.

Census Teams getting field equGorilla Doctor; Ricky demonstrated to the team on how to collect fecal samples effectivelyipment

Each night, mountain gorillas prepare fresh nests of living vegetation to sleep in. The number of nests in an area gives an indication as to the number of individual gorillas in a group. Once a nesting site has been located, the team collect faecal samples for genetic analysis.

Bwindi’s notoriously steep terrain and thick undergrowth makes the work particularly tough.

The Bwindi-Sarambwe ecosystem encompasses the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park (Uganda) of approximately 331 km2 and the Sarambwe Nature Reserve (the Democratic Republic of Congo) of 9 km2.

Census field teams walking through Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in search of gorilla signs.

The census will provide critical insights into mountain gorilla population size, distribution, health, and the dynamics of family groups (such as changes in composition and size).

Because trackers cover such a large portion of mountain gorilla habitat when looking for signs of gorillas, the census also provides an opportunity to collect data on other key wildlife species including African elephants, chimpanzees and other large mammals.

It also allows the team to monitor and address signs of human disturbance and poaching activities, including the removal of snares, traps or rubbish. Therefore, not only does the census aid in mountain gorilla conservation but helps to ensure the health of the ecosystem at large.