This past Halloween, an event was held in Denver, Colorado that set a Guinness World Record and raised money for the much endangered mountain gorilla.

The Denver Gorilla Run featured a 3.5 mile road race where all the participants wore gorilla suits. They set the record for Most People in Gorilla Suits with 1061 participants. The race also raised money for the Mountain Gorilla Conservation Fund, which is dedicated to the protection of mountain gorillas and their habitat.

To learn more about mountain gorillas, see Animal Fact Guide’s article: Mountain Gorilla.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority is launching a new program to help raise funds and awareness for the very endangered mountain gorilla.

Starting this Saturday, September 26, you can friend or follow specific gorillas living in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest on Facebook or Twitter for a minimum donation of $1. You will get updates on your gorilla friend(s), including photos, videos, and GPS coordinates – all data gathered by actual trackers that visit the gorillas daily.

According to Lillian Nsubuga, a spokeswoman for the Uganda Wildlife Authority, “For people who think Uganda is a village in Kenya or have only ever heard of the country because of (former dictator) Idi Amin, we want to create a new, more beautiful image. We’re hoping that the online fans will one day come to Uganda to meet their gorilla friends for real.”

For more information about the Friend a Gorilla program, see:
USA Today
FriendA Gorilla.org

To learn more about endangered mountain gorillas, see Animal Fact Guide’s article: Mountain Gorilla.

In August of 2007, rebels had taken over Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, one of the few habitats of the extremely endangered mountain gorilla. In turn, most of the rangers and staff fled the rebel-occupied area.

Last Tuesday, a group of reporters, rangers, and scientists returned to the area for the first time in 15 months. What they discovered was uplifting: a family of mountain gorillas contently consuming bamboo stalks.

Ironically, the rebel hold of the area actually benefited the gorillas as it shifted the area of fighting away from the gorilla habitat. According to Benjamin Nsana, a park guide who elected to stay behind when the rebels took control, the area was safe for gorillas because the rebels guarded the perimeters so carefully. In fact, 6 babies were born since last year.

For more information about the rangers’, scientists’, and reporters’ recent trip to Virunga National Park, see the AP’s “Congo gorillas survive in rebel-held forest.”

Mountain gorillas are extremely endangered with only 700 living in the wild. For more information about mountain gorillas, read Animal Fact Guide’s article: Mountain Gorilla.