Gorilla Haven Invites You To Visit And Adopt A Gorilla In 2009

By Jane Dewar 

Morganton, GA - Gorilla Haven Announces 2009 Tour Schedule & Adoption Program Fund-raising tours and the chance to adopt your own gorilla!

Established in 1996 and personally funded by Steuart and Jane Dewar, the Dewar Wildlife Trust (DWT) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit Georgia corporation, which operates Gorilla Haven, the world’s only private gorilla facility certified by the American Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

Jane Dewar spent decades studying gorillas around the world and knew something like Gorilla Haven was not only desperately needed, but that she and Steuart would be the only ones willing and able to pull it off, using their own hardearned money to initially fund the project. Knowing they had a sound, realistic business plan and sufficient funding to begin the huge undertaking, they adopted a “Field of Dreams” approach: “if we build it, they will come.”

Today Gorilla Haven is home to two silverback gorillas – 46 year old Joe and 20 year old Oliver. Gorilla Haven is considered a state-of-the-art facility, attracting the attention and praise of zoo professionals from around the world. Located on 324 acres in Fannin County, Georgia, Gorilla Haven tours are a great addition to the list of fun things to do in the mountains!

In February 2008, however, the economic downturn and cost increases forced the DWT to lay off its maintenance staff and halt construction, as well as stop their long-standing support of gorilla conservation projects in Africa and around the globe. A fund-raising campaign is now underway to complete construction of the remaining 2 gorilla “villas” and group building, to enable gorillas on a waiting list to come here, as well as to secure long-term support for the operation of the project, which could house up to 20 gorillas, once construction is complete.

April 2009 May 2009
 #1: Wed. April 8th
#2: Sat. April 11th
#3: Sat. May 23rd
#4: Wed. May 27th

June 2009 July 2009 August 2009
#5: Wed. June 17th
#6: Sat. June 20th
#7: Wed. July 8th
#8: Sat. July 11th
#9: Sat. August 1st
#10:Wed.August 5th

September 2009 October 2009 November 2009
#11: Sat. Sept. 5th
#12: Wed. Sept. 9th
#13: Sat. Oct. 10th
#14: Wed. Oct 14th
#15: Sat. Nov. 28th

Gorilla Haven 2009 Tour Dates
Tours: Gorilla Haven was not designed to be open to the public, however 15 Fund-Raising Tour dates scheduled for 2009 will give people a rare glimpse inside this stateof-the-art project, as well as the opportunity
to help support Gorilla Haven continue its important mission.

“Oliver and Joe are more gorgeous in person! Great presentation—spectacular facility—thank you for opening it up for us to see it first hand!”

“I thought we got a wonderful overview of the facility. Thank you for your honesty in advance about the fact that we might not actually see the gorillas—that made it all the more pleasurable that we did see them—up close and personal!”

“Thank you so much for sharing your passion with us!

Please continue these tours; you have so much to offer—educationally and emotionally, I feel better just being here!!”

Tour guests from the 2008 tours were unanimously enthusiastic about their experiences, leaving comments such as these:

Adoption: If you can’t get up to the mountains to meet Joe and Oliver in person on one of the fundraising tours, you can adopt a gorilla for as little as $25 a year. “We are offering various levels of adoptions to fit every budget, with every adoption receiving a Certificate of Adoption with a photo and history of their gorilla,” said Jane Dewar, Founder of Gorilla Haven and President of the Dewar Wildlife Trust. "For higher levels of adoptions, the incentives increase, including items such as Gorilla Haven t-shirts, having your name featured on the GH website – and for $500 a year, you get a special invitation to visit the facility with the option to be a “gorilla keeper assistant” to help feed and care for Joe or Oliver.”

At 46 years of age, Joe is the 4th oldest male gorilla in captivity. He was Gorilla Haven’s first resident, arriving in March 2003. Due to Joe’s geriatric health issues, he will no doubt live out his twilight years at the sanctuary, where he enjoys sun-bathing and relaxing in the peace and quiet of his mountain home.

Oliver is the world’s only known profoundly deaf silverback gorilla, born at the Bronx Zoo in 1988. Oliver arrived at Gorilla Haven in May 2006, and unlike Joe, he is much more in need of socialization with other gorillas, so he may move to another zoo at some point in the future, where it is hoped he will be given his own small family group. Until that time, Oliver lives with 2 pygmy goats, who follow him everywhere in his outside yard.

Tour & Adoption Fees:
Donations of $50 per person are requested for the walking tours, which run approximately 2 to 3 hours.
There is a special family rate upon request, and children under 12 years old need to have special permission. Adoption rates range from $25 to $500 per year, with your choice of Joe or Oliver.
More details are available at:
Website: www.gorilla-haven.org
Email: jdewar@gorilla-haven.org
Telephone: Emily Moreland (GH volunteer) at 706-851-9440
or by writing Gorilla Haven, P.O. Box 210, Morganton, GA 30560.