The Welfare of Gorillas in Sanctuaries

Gorilla sanctuaries provide critical care for orphaned and confiscated individuals — welfare depends on quality.

Key Facts

Mountain gorilla numbers have recovered to over 1,000 through intensive conservation programs
Western lowland gorillas are critically endangered with tens of thousands in sanctuaries
Bushmeat trade orphans young gorillas whose mothers are killed for food
Gorillas in sanctuaries need complex social groups and large forest habitats for adequate welfare

Welfare Considerations

Gorilla sanctuaries face extraordinary welfare challenges — gorillas are highly intelligent, socially complex primates that need social groups of appropriate composition, large ranging areas, and behavioral complexity that sanctuaries strain to provide. Orphaned gorillas who cannot be reintegrated into wild groups must live in permanent sanctuary conditions. The best sanctuaries — like those run by GRACE and Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education — provide forest ranging areas and managed social groups that approach wild conditions. Supporting these high-quality facilities directly improves gorilla welfare.

What You Can Do

Support accredited gorilla sanctuaries working on rehabilitation and conservation
Avoid products linked to DRC and Central African deforestation
Engage with gorilla conservation organizations on welfare-informed programs
Never support gorilla-related wildlife tourism that uses unaccredited facilities