The GameStop stocks story fueled by r/WallStreetBets has taken an unexpected but wholesome turn. The Redditors have started using their money to adopt gorillas and other animals, resulting in large donations towards gorilla conservation.
Back in January, the subreddit r/WallStreetBets saw a surge in popularity after Redditors were short squeezing the GameStop stock, resulting in major financial blows for hedge funds. The subreddit seemed to be one of the initial causes of the influx of individuals buying GameStop stock by bringing attention to the public float, and r/WallStreetBets was even shut down for a time to mediate the situation. Many great stories came as a result of the short squeeze, such as folks people able to buy a home or pay off medical bills and college debt. And while the hype over GameStop’s stock may have ceased, the happy stories continue.
Some who have been more successful with their GameStock stock gains have turned towards buying gorillas. The charitable but absurd market antics started as a joke because the r/WallStreetBet’s community calls themselves dumb “apes” and “degenerates,” and another Redditor kept the memes going by adopting a falcon with the message “DEEP FALCON VALUE.” The user also encouraged organizations to send back photos of the animals playing with toys and silly objects like “rocket ship and moon toys” to the community as it’ll likely result in further donations.
Another posted a confirmation from The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund saying, “I see we’re adopting gorillas now. Well I’m down.” The charitable donations from the Wall Street Bets winners won’t actually result in taking home a gorilla. Instead, users are giving money towards the conservation of gorillas and, in return, they’re given updates, photos, videos, and a description of the gorilla along with an adoption certificate and a digital subscription to the Gorilla Journal.
The gorillas available for adoption range from $60 to $150, so for those who had major wins from the GameStop stocks, “adopting” a gorilla is a small price for a big cause.
President and CEO Tara Stoinski has also responded to the charitable donations, specifically thanking r/WallStreetBets for the attention and great sum of money across many users. On Sunday, the organization announced that it had received over $77,000 in just one day, a number that has likely increased since it was first reported. Stoinski says that the support from WSB will “go a long way” in helping the support of gorillas and apes.
Though some stock traders might criticize those involved with the GameStop stock short squeeze, it’s nice to see individuals donating portions of their wins to good causes.
