Keeping gorillas healthy
David Johnson, series producer
Like it or not, the survival for many gorilla families depends on responsible tourism. The economic value that tourists can generate is one of the main drivers of conservation for these remarkable primates. But exposing them to human contact can create a risk.
infectious diseases are the second highest cause of death for adult mountain gorillas
Because gorillas are closely related to humans, they are more susceptible to our diseases than most animals, especially respiratory infections like colds and flu. That means we need to be extremely careful on their behalf. In the recent past there are several examples of gorilla families catching such illnesses from people, and in a several of these cases have proved fatal for gorillas. In fact infectious diseases are the second highest cause of death for adult mountain gorillas, neighbouring relatives of our Grauer’s gorillas.
Armed with this knowledge most gorilla organisations have adopted protocols, designed to protect gorillas from this risk. It’s important that tourists try to stay at least 7 metres from gorillas. Obviously the gorillas don’t know this, which can make things difficult! The vegetation, topography or presence of another gorilla behind you may make it momentarily impossible to maintain this separation. But whenever possible it’s best to try and keep that distance.
More recently it has been recommended that people viewing gorillas should wear a facemask to reduce the chance of disease transmission. In discussion with the Park staff at Kahuzi-Biega Gordon wore a dark coloured bandana with a medical mask fitted inside to create a less visually distracting appearance.
It’s also important to avoid the forest if you are obviously sick as the welfare of these animals is so important.
If you are fortunate enough to visit gorillas in the wild please wear a medical mask and keep a respectful distance to ensure the well being of these remarkable animals from which we have much to learn.
