GRACE Gorillas

How it started vs. How it’s going 💚 10 years ago today, Lulingu was confiscated from the illegal wildlife trade as an orphaned infant. She arrived at GRACE needing intensive care from dedicated caregivers. As she got stronger and healthier, she was introduced to Pinga, an adult female gorilla who became her surrogate mother. Pinga helped Lulingu learn how to be part of a gorilla family. Recently, Lulingu became one of the first Grauer’s gorillas ever rewilded from GRACE, and today she’s living wild in the forests where she belongs. 10 years later, we are proud to say, Lulingu made it home. Want to learn more about her incredible journey? Watch the video of Lulingu’s remarkable rescue from our friends at @gopro (link in bio) #GrauersGorilla #WildlifeConservation #Rewilding #Gorillas

Here are 5 simple ways to help protect critically endangered Grauer’s gorillas today on #EndangeredSpeciesDay! 🦍💚 With fewer than 6,800 Grauer’s gorillas remaining in the wild, they are among the world's 25 most endangered primates. Their future depends on all of us. Which action will you take? #EndangeredSpeciesDay #GrauersGorilla #EasternLowlandGorilla #GorillaConservation

We are heartbroken to share that a beloved member of the GRACE team, John Muhenzo Vayighonga, passed away unexpectedly on May 9, 2026. John was born in Butembo and grew up in Kasugho, a village near GRACE. He joined our team in 2021 and quickly became known as someone who was hardworking, kind, and always willing to help wherever he was needed. John brought many skills to GRACE. He first worked in our garden, helping grow food that supports the health and wellbeing of the gorillas in our care. He later joined our maintenance team, where he helped with electrical repairs, vehicle maintenance, generator repairs, and maintaining GRACE’s forest perimeter fence. As a driver for GRACE, John transported food, medicine, supplies, and equipment to our sanctuary, often traveling long distances on difficult roads to make sure our team and the gorillas had what they needed. During periods of insecurity last year, when supplies were harder to access, John’s courage and dedication helped keep GRACE operating. John earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Conservation of Nature and Development of Kasugho, reflecting his commitment to learning and his dedication to animal care and conservation. John will be remembered as a committed colleague, a hardworking professional, and a reliable team member. His dedication, technical versatility, and collaborative spirit contributed greatly to GRACE’s daily operations and to our mission of gorilla rehabilitation and conservation. His legacy lives on in the impact he made on his colleagues and in the conservation work he faithfully supported. We honor John’s life and hold his family, friends, and loved ones in our hearts during this incredibly difficult time. May he rest in peace.

Happy Mother’s Day to mothers and mother figures everywhere 💚🦍 Today we’re celebrating the many forms of love, care, and protection that help families thrive, and the nurturing wisdom that connects across generations on our shared Mother Earth. Wishing you a beautiful day! #MothersDay #MotherFigures #MotherEarth #CelebrateMoms

Peek-a-boo from the forest 🌿👀 This gorilla may look like they’re playing hide and seek behind the tree, but behaviors like this can actually serve several purposes. Gorillas often use trees and vegetation for comfort, observation, play, or simply as a way to feel secure while watching the activity around them. You’ll also notice another gorilla nearby. Even during quiet moments, gorillas stay socially aware of the members of their group. Small moments like this remind us that gorilla life isn’t always dramatic or fast-paced. Often, it’s thoughtful, observant, and full of subtle social interactions happening quietly in the forest. 💚 #WildlifeWednesday #Exploreorg #GorillaLife #WildlifePhotography #WildlifeConservation

The GRACE gorillas decided to make a group appearance for the final day of Ape-ril! Captured on our live cam from @exploreorg , this rare moment shows all nine of GRACE’s sanctuary gorillas in one frame. Every gorilla at GRACE was rescued from the illegal wildlife trade and given a second chance through long-term care, rehabilitation, and protection. Today, they’re safe and inspiring a future where Grauer’s gorillas can thrive in the wild. A perfect way to end Ape-ril! 🦍🎉💚 #ApeRil #GRACEGorillas #GrauersGorillas #GorillaConservation

Wishing the @DisneyConservation Fund a very Happy 30th birthday! We are proud and grateful that @GRACE has been a part of The Disney Conservation Fund’s 30 years of impact. Thanks to their support, we have created the world's first and only sanctuary for critically-endangered Grauer's gorillas rescued from the illegal wildlife trade. From building the very first night house and forest habitat at the GRACE sanctuary, to rewilding four gorillas for the very first time, Disney has been with us every step of the way. Most recently, they have provided support to protect and monitor 500,000 acres of critical forest habitat for gorillas, okapi, pangolin, forest elephant, and more. Together with local communities, we are creating a world where people, gorillas and forests thrive! #DisneyConservationFund #DisneyPlanetPossible #DCF30

Happy Earth Day from GRACE Gorillas! 🦍🌍💚 Today, we’re celebrating the beauty of our planet—from the richness of its forests to the incredible wildlife, like Grauer’s gorillas, who call them home. It’s also a chance to step outside, reconnect with nature, and appreciate its quieter moments. Thank you for being part of a future where people, forests, and gorillas thrive. Wishing you a wonderful Earth Day! #EarthDay #GRACEGorillas #GrauersGorillas #GorillaConservation

Snack time in the treetops 🌿🦍 Meet Kalonge, enjoying a peaceful meal high in the branches. As a Grauer's gorilla, much of Kalonge’s day is spent foraging for leaves, stems, and other plant foods. You’ll notice how carefully she reaches for the branches around her. She is selecting, pulling, and eating with intention. Even in a single tree, there’s a buffet of choices! While gorillas are often thought of as ground-dwellers, they are skilled climbers and will head into the trees when food is plentiful. These quiet feeding moments are a big part of their natural daily rhythm. At GRACE Gorillas, scenes like this show natural behaviors thriving. It shows curiosity, confidence, and the simple joy of a good meal. 💚 #Exploreorg #GorillaLife #Foraging #ConservationInAction #WildlifeWednesday

Sisters? Friends? Sparring partners? This might look like a fight, but these two female Grauer’s gorilla are actually playing. Wrestling is a normal (and important!) part of gorilla life. It helps them build friendships, learn social skills, and figure out boundaries. Notice how it stays balanced and back-and-forth? That’s how you know it’s play, not aggression. Even in the wild, not every moment is calm and quiet… sometimes it’s a little gorilla wrestling match in the forest. 💚 At GRACE Gorillas, moments like this show growing confidence, comfort, and strong social bonds. #WildlifeWednesday #GorillaBehavior #PlayfulPrimates #ConservationInAction

This is what a normal, peaceful gorilla day looks like in the forest. Foraging, resting, and staying close to their group. Gorillas are highly social animals and spend most of their lives with their family group, even when they’re simply eating or relaxing like you see here. At GRACE Gorillas, these everyday moments are incredibly important. They show us that rescued gorillas are learning natural behaviors, building social bonds, and living as gorillas should. Sometimes the quiet moments are the most important ones. #WildlifeWednesday #Exploreorg #GorillaConservation #WildlifeProtection #ForestLife #GorillaFamily #AnimalBehavior

Conservation starts with everyday actions. Recently, the GRACE team came together for a hands-on training focused on something we all deal with: waste. Led by GRACE educators, the session explored how different types of waste—from food scraps to plastics to medical materials—impact the environment. Participants learned simple, practical ways to sort, reduce, reuse, and safely dispose of waste. Together, they identified real solutions to improve waste management across the GRACE site, including composting organic materials, strengthening recycling efforts, and safely handling hazardous waste. The training didn’t stop there. The group also took action—organizing a community clean-up and working side by side to collect litter and care for their shared environment. As GRACE Center Manager Faustin Muhindo Kibwana shared: “Responsible waste management at GRACE reinforces our conservation mission and ensures a healthy environment for wildlife, staff, and the community.” This work may happen behind the scenes, but it plays a vital role—protecting ecosystems, supporting health, and helping create a cleaner, more sustainable future for people and Grauer’s gorillas. Join the GRACE team in taking action. What’s one simple change you can make today to reduce, reuse, recycle, or repurpose? #GRACEGorillas #ConservationInAction #Sustainability #CommunityConservation #ProtectForests #GrauersGorillas