Zoo Atlanta and The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund Celebrate 30 Years of Partnership

Ahead of World Gorilla Day on September 24, two organizations celebrate an impressive 30 years of partnership in protecting wild gorillas and informing the world’s body of knowledge about these great apes.

The international headquarters of the Fossey Fund have been located on Zoo Atlanta grounds since 1995. Over the past three decades, Zoo Atlanta has supported the organization by providing office space, information technology, and financial support that have enabled the Fossey Fund to focus more resources on protecting gorillas and building resilient communities in Rwanda and DR Congo.

The Fossey Fund was officially named as one of Zoo Atlanta’s Signature Conservation Partners in 2025.

“Zoo Atlanta is very proud to celebrate an incredible 30 years of partnership with the Fossey Fund. Through this partnership, each of our two organizations has benefited from the other’s knowledge, insights and observations toward a shared cause of protecting gorillas for future generations,” said Raymond B. King, President and CEO. “This is a shining example of the power of collaboration between zoos and other conservation organizations.”

Established in 1967 by famed primatologist Dian Fossey, the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund works to protect and study wild gorillas and their habitats and support people who live near the gorillas’ forest home. With a team of more than 400 staff working in Rwanda and DR Congo, the Fossey Fund is the world’s longest-running and largest organization dedicated entirely to gorilla conservation, helping to bring mountain gorillas back from the brink of extinction – the only great ape on the planet whose numbers are increasing, a rare conservation success story.

“The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund is deeply grateful for its longstanding partnership with Zoo Atlanta,” said Tara Stoinski, PhD, CEO and President/Chief Scientific Officer of the Fossey Fund. “The Zoo’s pro bono office space and other support have allowed us to dedicate more resources directly to essential efforts – protecting critically endangered gorillas in Africa, investing in local communities and advancing scientific research for lasting conservation.”

Gorillas are a significant area of leadership for Zoo Atlanta. The Zoo is home to one of North America’s largest populations of gorillas, with 20 individuals living in distinct social groups. To date, 26 gorillas have been born at Zoo Atlanta, and the Zoo has become a recognized center of expertise in the care of gorillas in a variety of life stages. Research by Zoo Atlanta scientists and partners has influenced contemporary knowledge of gorillas, with more than 100 published papers on maternal care, reproduction, social behavior, and cognition. Zoo Atlanta supports the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) SAFE Gorilla, which brings accredited zoos together to collaborate on shared gorilla conservation goals.

While the gorillas are the centerpiece of the Fossey Fund’s work, their mission focuses on much more than saving a species. It addresses the dual threats of biodiversity loss and climate change on focuses on many of the key issues facing our own species, such as poverty, educational access, job creation, and food and water security. The organization is also building the next generation of conservation leaders, training hundreds of university students and early-career scientists each year.

Zoo Atlanta and the Fossey Fund were among the founding organizations of World Gorilla Day, which is observed annually on September 24. In celebration of World Gorilla Day and the milestone of the 30th anniversary of the partnership, from September 21 through September 28, 2025, all donations included with online Zoo Atlanta ticket sales will benefit the Fossey Fund.

For an immersive opportunity to observe mountain gorillas in the wild in Rwanda as Fossey Fund scientists do, Zoo guests are encouraged to experience Gorilla Trek: A 360° Ride Film, presented daily at the Zoo’s Wild Explorer VR Theater in partnership with Immotion. Gorilla Trek is narrated by Dr. Stoinski. Visit zooatlanta.org to learn more about Zoo Atlanta’s mission and programs. For more information on the Fossey Fund, visit gorillafund.org.