Grauer’s gorillas, one of the world’s 25 most endangered primates, have suffered a catastrophic population decline in the past 20 years. Found only in eastern DR Congo, fewer than 6,800 remain. The Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education (GRACE) Center was founded to protect Grauer's gorillas and the forests they call home.

Located in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo near Tayna Nature Reserve, GRACE partners with Congolese communities to create a living landscape where Grauer’s gorillas, forest habitats, and local communities thrive.

Despite operating in one of the most remote and challenging regions on Earth, GRACE has grown into an award-winning NGO that local Congolese communities describe as “an oasis of hope.”

GRACE advances its mission through three program areas, each receiving equal focus:

1. Rewilding Grauer’s gorillas: Founded in direct response to the illegal wildlife trade, GRACE is the only sanctuary dedicated to rehabilitating and rewilding Grauer’s gorillas. GRACE and its partners have achieved the first successful rewilding of this critically endangered species, marking an unprecedented, large-scale conservation breakthrough.

2. Protecting forest habitat: GRACE works to protect more than 500,000 acres of remote primary tropical forest, critical habitat for Grauer’s gorillas and other threatened species. Tayna Nature Reserve is a priority stronghold for remaining populations, and GRACE is now helping connect this vital landscape to Maiko National Park through the Usala Conservation corridor by securing land rights for local communities.

3. Engaging local communities: GRACE practices community-led conservation through locally designed solutions, conservation education, sustainable livelihood initiatives, and biodiversity monitoring. By prioritizing youth and women as environmental stewards, GRACE is building lasting conservation leadership for 60,000+ people per year throughout the region.

GRACE Gorillas

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GRACE Gorillas

Org chart

Teams

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