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About the FVGP

Officially called the Fernan-Vaz Gorilla Project since November of 2006, this project was initiated in the year 2001 when a family of gorillas was transferred from the Centre International de Recherches Médicales de Franceville (CIRMF) onto the island of Evengué-Ezango, located just north of Loango National Park in Gabon.    
Our Mission

To apply a multi-disciplinary approach toward curbing the bush meat trade that is imminently threatening the survival of the remaining great apes through responsible tourism, sustainable development, education, research, advocacy and law enforcement. 

Our Goals
    1. Provide dignity and safety to orphaned gorillas who are victims of the bush meat and live pet trades; 
    2. Rescue orphaned gorillas, victims of the bush meat crisis, in line with legal confiscation protocols applied through cooperation with local and national wildlife authorities;
    3. Contribute to the protection and conservation of wild gorilla populations;
    4. Raise global awareness on great ape conservation. 
Our Objectives
  • Maintain and continually update our standards of care and protocols, respectively, provided and adapted to rescued gorillas victims of Gabon's bush meat crisis;
  • Rehabilitate, and potentially reintroduce, orphaned gorillas using scientifically recognised reintroduction guidelines;
  • Provide on-going training to local staff specific to gorilla husbandry and conservation;
  • Maintain a database on various parameters from orphaned gorillas kept in semi-captivity and orphaned gorillas being rehabilitated for reintroduction;
  • Maintain and develop relevant housing infrastructures with well-defined capacities, as required;
  • Encourage responsible gorilla-conscious tourism through updated and revised policies, regulations and education;
  • Develop and conduct regular education campaigns geared toward both children and adults from local communities;
  • Encourage non-invasive research that aims to contribute to gorilla welfare, great-ape conservation, responsible gorilla-conscious tourism, and/or local development;
  • Encourage local and national authorities in the application of legislation aimed at protecting all great-apes and endangered species;
  • Maintain and develop a network with relevant experts and members of the global community.

For more information about the project:

Gorilla Sanctuary

Gorilla Rehabilitation Centre

For more information on gorillas in Gabon and how they are being threatened:

Gorillas in Gabon

Gorillas in peril
Subpages (1): FVGP Staff