On this Earth Day, gorillas need more than our admiration — they need a safe and natural home.
Koko helped the world see gorillas in a new way, as individuals with deep feelings, distinct personalities, remarkable intelligence, and a profound capacity for connection.
Now it’s our turn to act.
Imagine a sanctuary designed around each gorilla as an individual (both zoo-born and wild-born gorillas), scaleable, and offering not only protection, but autonomy and genuine access to Nature 24/7.
That’s exactly what we’re creating now in partnership with The Aspinall Foundation (experts in both gorilla conservation and rewilding) and Stantec (a world-class sustainable design and engineering firm).
The MaKoko Gorilla Sanctuary is planned to be located within the Lesio-Louna Reserve — a half-million acre protected wilderness in the Republic of Congo where a free-living gorilla population is slowly but surely being reestablished.
The proposed name honors both Koko and the traditional kings of the Congo region.
The design phase is underway. The decisions we make now will help lay the foundation for a place of safety, freedom, and care for the gorillas who need it most.
You can help us design it …
Your Earth Day gift will help shape the sanctuary from the ground up, with every choice centered on what gorillas need to thrive.
Thank you for helping turn what Koko taught us into a lasting, natural home for gorillas.
Stay tuned for regular updates on the status of the design including photo-realistic visualizations of the trajectory of gorillas, as they progress from captivity to freedom.
You can also email your design input and feedback to [email protected]
