2017 Great Gorilla Run hits the streets of London

Great ape lovers from around the world came together in London to celebrate the 2017 Great Gorilla Run.

Under the watchful eye of race patron and TV conservationist Bill Oddie, hundreds of runners and their supporters warmed up with a session of Zumba dancing before setting off on a 8km run through the heart of the city. The gorillas, all wearing full black fur suits, went ape over Tower Bridge and past the Tower of London, to the delight of tourists and well-wishers.

Among those running this year were Gorilla Organization Chairman Ian Redmond OBE, alongside runners from New York City, Sweden and Spain.

Watching the action unfold, Bill Oddie said: “This is the one day of the year when I know I will definitely have a great laugh. To see people dress up, go crazy and run for our furry friends never fails to lift my spirits – and knowing it’s all for a great cause makes it even better.”

The money raised from the Great Gorilla Run goes to support the Gorilla Organization’s frontline conservation projects in Central Africa, and such projects are needed now more than ever. All four sub-species of gorilla are now classified as being Critically Endangered (one step away from being extinct in the wild) and threats including poaching and habitat loss continue to put the remaining apes in peril.

After the race, prizes were awarded for the Best Dressed Male and Female gorillas, the Biggest Team, and the Furtest-Travelled Gorilla. A further award will be presented to the runner who raised the biggest amount of money, with this to be announced once all the money pledged by the runners’ sponsors has been collected.