Hundreds of people dressed in gorilla suits have run through London to help save the animals from extinction.
Conservationist Bill Oddie started the runners on the 7km Great Gorilla Run which takes in the sights of Tower Bridge and Tate Modern. All funds will go to the London-based charity the Gorilla Organisation which runs projects in central Africa.
Earlier this month the Western lowland gorilla was officially classified as critically endangered.
The gorilla headed the Red List of Threatened Species for 2007 published by The World Conservation Union.
It is hoped the event will raise more than £250,000 to help save the world's remaining gorillas from extinction.
Jillian Miller, the Gorilla Organisation' s executive director, said: "Just last week, the Western lowland gorilla was officially classified as critically endangered, just one step away from becoming extinct.
"The Mountain gorillas also face imminent extinction with only 700 left in the world, but everyone who gets involved with the Great Gorilla Run is helping to save these magnificent animals."
Bill Oddie, who started the runners, said this was one of his favourite events of the year.
He said it was a "very very serious subject and very very serious situation," and added that a lot of good could be done "with an enormous sense of humour".
The route passes the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Southbank, St Paul's Cathedral and London Bridge and takes the average runner one and a half hours to complete.
Conservationist Bill Oddie started the runners on the 7km Great Gorilla Run which takes in the sights of Tower Bridge and Tate Modern. All funds will go to the London-based charity the Gorilla Organisation which runs projects in central Africa.
Earlier this month the Western lowland gorilla was officially classified as critically endangered.
The gorilla headed the Red List of Threatened Species for 2007 published by The World Conservation Union.
It is hoped the event will raise more than £250,000 to help save the world's remaining gorillas from extinction.
Jillian Miller, the Gorilla Organisation' s executive director, said: "Just last week, the Western lowland gorilla was officially classified as critically endangered, just one step away from becoming extinct.
"The Mountain gorillas also face imminent extinction with only 700 left in the world, but everyone who gets involved with the Great Gorilla Run is helping to save these magnificent animals."
Bill Oddie, who started the runners, said this was one of his favourite events of the year.
He said it was a "very very serious subject and very very serious situation," and added that a lot of good could be done "with an enormous sense of humour".
The route passes the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Southbank, St Paul's Cathedral and London Bridge and takes the average runner one and a half hours to complete.
