The Gorilla Narratives is a storytelling platform elevating the voices of those protecting the planet in the most fragile and forgotten places. From the heart of gorilla country to the margins of global attention, we tell the stories that conservation can’t afford to lose.
The Gorilla Narratives exists to amplify the untold stories of conservationists, indigenous stewards, and communities on the frontlines of ecological and cultural survival. Through storytelling, we bridge the worlds of wilderness and humanity, revealing not just the threats to our planet — but the hope, resistance, and wisdom that still pulse through its wildest corners.
We believe that saving species means saving stories — and that by honouring the voices too often unheard, we can reshape how the world sees conservation: not as charity, but as justice. Rooted in post-conflict landscapes and primate habitats, The Gorilla Narratives weaves together memoir, myth, reportage, and oral history to preserve memory, inspire action, and spark legacy.
We exist to gather and give voice to the stories whispered beneath the forest canopy and carried in the hearts of those who guard the wild. Through narrative, we honour the courage of communities who live where the map fades — where gorillas walk, rivers remember, and conflict leaves its scars.
Our mission is to listen deeply, share boldly, and weave a tapestry of truth and resilience — so that no story is lost to silence, and no protector of the earth stands unheard.
We aim to build a living archive of frontline conservation stories — where indigenous voices, eco-activists, and post-conflict communities are heard, honoured, and empowered — ensuring that the wisdom of those closest to the wild shapes the future of our planet.
🌍 Call for Submissions
The Gorilla Narratives: Stories at the Intersection of Kinship, Culture, and Conservation
The Gorilla Narratives is a global storytelling project rooted in the belief that conservation is not just about protecting nature—it’s about reconnecting people, reclaiming cultural wisdom, and reimagining our future together.
While inspired by the mountain gorilla—an icon of survival and interdependence—this project invites stories from all corners of the planet, about landscapes, species, ecosystems, and communities navigating the deep transformations of our time.
💬 What We’re Looking For
We seek stories that explore:
Biocultural conservation: efforts rooted in place, culture, and community
Indigenous and traditional ecological knowledge
Encounters with endangered or sacred species
Local resilience and adaptation to climate change
Environmental grief, hope, and transformation
Stories of justice, sovereignty, or ecological repair
Art, memory, or ritual practices related to land and life
We’re especially interested in first-person narratives, oral history, creative nonfiction, and interdisciplinary storytelling that reflects both lived experience and imaginative vision.
📝 Submission Guidelines
Format: Essay, article, poem, photo essay, interview, or audio story
Length: Up to 1,500 words (or pitch us on something longer)
Languages: English is preferred; submissions in other languages are welcome—we will work with you on translation if needed
Audience: Global and intergenerational; we welcome diverse voices and forms
Honorariums: Modest stipends may be available for contributors with lived experience in underrepresented regions or communities
📤 How to Submit
Send submissions or story pitches to: gorillalandsafaris@gmail.com
Include a short bio, preferred pronouns, and relevant media or context if needed. Indicate if you’d be open to an interview or collaboration.
🌿 Who We’re Inviting
Community conservation leaders and stewards
Indigenous knowledge holders and youth
Refugees, diaspora, and displaced peoples
Artists, ecologists, and spiritual practitioners
Anyone with a story rooted in place, kinship, or care
✨ Why “Gorilla”?
The gorilla is our starting point—a powerful symbol of what’s at stake and what’s possible. But The Gorilla Narratives reaches far beyond. It’s a growing collective of stories from those living on the frontlines of environmental change, those working to heal relationships with land, and those imagining new ways forward.
Let’s rewild the story of conservation.
