Dear Friend,
We are pleased to share that The Gorilla Foundation (TGF) and The Aspinall Foundation (TAF) have entered into a landmark partnership to advance gorilla conservation and welfare. Together, we are planning a next-generation gorilla sanctuary in the Republic of Congo, which will be designed to support both captive gorillas currently in human care and wild-born orphaned gorillas requiring rehabilitation, pending all necessary approvals.
The sanctuary will be developed to support the long-term gorilla reintroduction program within the protected Lesio-Louna Wildlife Reserve.
This partnership brings together decades of complementary experience in gorilla welfare, conservation, rehabilitation, and sanctuary planning. Together, TGF and TAF share a bold, long-term vision: to create a natural sanctuary designed not simply for care, but to support rehabilitation, greater autonomy, and, where possible, a return to the wild.
The first phase of the partnership will focus on i) supporting the ongoing gorilla reintroduction program in the Lesio-Louna Reserve, and ii) pioneering the design, master planning, and visualization of a new sanctuary in collaboration with one of the worldโs leading primate habitat designers. This work will help define a new model for progressive gorilla sanctuary design and care.
Construction of the new sanctuary will proceed only after key conditions are met, including formal approvals from the Congolese government, full funding for both construction and long-term operations, and commitments to support the safe transfer and integration of the first gorilla groups.
TGFโs contribution to the partnership is informed by more than four decades of pioneering gorilla-centered care, grounded in a philosophy that prioritizes choice, communication, social connection, and psychological well-being.
TAF brings extensive field experience in Central Africa, including decades of leadership in gorilla rehabilitation and rewilding, the management of protected forest habitats, and the long-term care, reintroduction and monitoring of great apes in the Republics of Congo and Gabon.
Gorillas today face severe threats from habitat loss, poaching, and the illegal wildlife trade. Orphaned gorillas often require years of intensive rehabilitation, while gorillas living in human-managed environments deserve opportunities to experience richer, more natural lives with greater autonomy, privacy, and access to natural settings.
This partnership directly addresses both challenges by creating a pathway from rescue to rehabilitation, and from captivity to greater freedom, through careful planning, scientific rigor, public video connection to the gorillas, and global collaboration.
As planning moves forward, we both remain committed to keeping the well-being, dignity, and conservation of gorillas at the center of every decision.
With Koko love,
Penny Patterson
President, CEO and Founder
The Gorilla Foundation / koko.org
Conservation through Communication
The Gorilla Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Our Federal Tax ID is: 942-38-6151
