World Gorilla Day
24th September
On 24th September, we celebrate World Gorilla Day – a day to learn more about these amazing animals, and spread awareness about the challenges they face.
For generations, visitors to Wollaton Hall have delighted in seeing our famous primate George the Gorilla, part of our museum collection since his purchase at the Paris Exhibition in 1878. Today he stands in our Living Planet gallery, which helps to teach visitors about endangered species and human impact on the natural world.
Recently, George has been the subject of research by the N-MESH project, an initiative set up to create a multidisciplinary research network across various departments at the University of Nottingham.
Image Credit: Graham Armitage
The research aims to find out more about George – which of the two species of Gorilla he is (Western or Eastern Gorilla), and whereabouts in Africa he came from…
Image Credit: Graham Armitage
DNA, hair, and tooth enamel samples were collected from George and sent off for laboratory analysis to further this research, which is still currently ongoing, and the results will be made public in due course.
Image Credit: Graham Armitage
Learn more about N-MESH’s project to discover George’s origins
Gorillas In The Wild
Both Western and Easter Gorillas are classed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as Critically Endangered – just one step away from extinction.
These photos, captured by Curator of Natural Sciences Dr Sheila Wright, show Mountain Gorillas (one of the two sub-species of Eastern Gorillas) in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda.
The conservation work being done for Mountain Gorillas in Uganda is a major global success story, with numbers in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest now having risen to over 450 – around 45% of the world’s remaining population of these amazing primates.
Income from well-managed ecotourism is used to support a large team of rangers who protect the gorillas from poaching and other threats. Their forest home is also being strictly protected, helping to preserve their habitat for future generations.
Plan a visit to our Natural History Museum, and find out more about how we can protect and preserve our planet and its wildlife!
Wollaton 100 | Hall & Exhibition | Latest
World Gorilla Day
Thursday 24th September 2026
Wollaton 100 | Hall & Exhibition | Latest
Diverse Cabinets of Curiosity
Open from July 2026
Hall & Exhibition | Latest
Natural History Museum
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