Imagine waking up to the sounds of gorillas in their natural habitat, knowing that your efforts are helping to protect these magnificent creatures. 

This article delves into the remarkable work of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, the world’s largest and longest-running organization dedicated to gorilla conservation. Founded by the legendary Dian Fossey, the Fund not only protects and studies gorillas but also empowers local communities through comprehensive programs.

Dian Fossey’s original objectives were to study gorilla behavior and ecology. She found herself spending days searching for and attempting to observe these elusive animals while encountering signs that poachers and other human intruders had preceded her. And so her methods quickly expanded beyond science to include what she called “active conservation” – removing snares and discouraging illegal activities like cattle grazing in the park. 

Ellen DeGeneres Campus: A Tribute to Gorillas and Conservation

• Gorilla Family Trees: Showcasing the complex social structures and relationships within gorilla families.
• Memorial Wall: Highlighting the year Dian Fossey died, her burial site, and the story of how she was tragically killed in her cabin while protecting gorillas from poachers.
• Comparative Anatomy Display: Demonstrating the similarities and differences between human and gorilla skeletons, including size, limbs, heads, brains, teeth, and thumbs.

The Language of Gorillas: Understanding Their Sounds

The campus also includes an interactive game where visitors try to imitate the gorilla sounds, There are five different vocalizations: 

• Strength Displays: Sounds that males make to show their strength.
• Food Enjoyment: Gorillas hum when enjoying delicious food, similar to how people hum when satisfied.
• Warning Calls: Sounds used to warn others and express displeasure with certain behaviors.
• Play and Laughter: Different sounds that indicate when gorillas are playing and laughing.

7 most famous Gorillas

There is the Hall at Dian Fossey that displays seven of their most famous Gorillas and when the Guest Visit they can take a quiz and find out which one of them they are most like, For example, Titus who is famously called the Gorilla king features in a Movie called The Gorilla King has a beer named after him and the Gorilla that is found on the 5000 Rwandan franc Note that has a nose that is similar to his.

Modern Conservation

In this section, people get to learn about the threats that gorillas face and what they can do to help. As you can see in the photo below there is no buffer zone that separates the forest and the farmland. The people who live close to the forest are largely affected by poverty and this makes them depend on the forest in one way or the other.

Conclusion: Visiting Musanze and the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund offers a unique and enriching experience. Not only do you get to witness the beauty and majesty of gorillas in their natural habitat, but you also become part of a larger mission to protect and conserve these incredible creatures. The campus provides an educational and interactive journey that deepens your understanding of gorilla conservation and the critical role local communities play in this effort.

Credit: Ellen DeGeneres Campus
Price : Free for all, Donations are accepted.

Feel Free to Watch the Video for better understanding.