The Karisoke Research Center, established by Dr. Dian Fossey in 1967, is the main center of our mountain gorilla protection activities in Rwanda.
In addition to our extensive daily protection, monitoring and study of the gorillas, Karisoke is involved with numerous educational projects at all levels, including opportunities for Rwandan university students to conduct their thesis research at Karisoke, offering field courses, lectures and classroom courses for university-level students, providing training for conservation partners such as the local national park guide staff, and bringing programs for primary and secondary schools in the areas surrounding Volcanoes National Park. Read more about the Karisoke education programs and projects.
Our staff at the Karisoke Research Center provide training in biodiversity conservation for wildlife staff from Rwanda, Congo and Uganda. This includes the creation of manuals covering all aspects of biodiversity in Volcanoes National Park, and educational seminars and workshops in conservation and other subjects (such as primate behavior) for national park tourist guides, trackers and wardens at Volcanoes National Park and other national parks and related institutions. Read more about the Karisoke Research Center education programs in biodiversity training.
As part of our Ecosystem Health program, we provide health and hygiene education programs to local communities in collaboration with local authorities (along with treatment programs for intestinal parasitism and other medical assistance). This also includes training of local health technicians for the parasitism and other projects.
The Tayna Center for Conservation Biology is a unique field-based university and training center created in 2003 with the support of DFGFI and formally recognized with “university status” by the DRC government . The first groups of students at TCCB have now graduated, and will go on to create the next generation of local conservationists in the local communities, helping to preserve the rich biodiversity of this region (which is also home to the endangered Grauer's gorilla). Read more in-depth information about the Tayna Center.
DFGFI provides school fees and supplies to students chosen from villages of the seven community-based reserves in Congo (which provide a corridor linking Maiko National Park and Kahuzi-Biega National Parks). The students are selected based on their outstanding grades and interest in continuing higher education.
DFGFI also provides school fees and supplies to an orphanage near the Tayna Nature Reserve.
