Gorilla Tourism – A Double-Edged Sword

However, tourists pose a risk to the gorillas in the form of disease transmission. Mountain gorillas, who share 98.5% of our DNA, are extremely vulnerable to human disease, especially respiratory infections.

By on 16th November 2011 in World Conservation Issues
Image: By Cai Tjeenk Willink (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

The mountain gorilla is one of the most vulnerable species on Earth. Our close relatives have great appeal to us, and as a result an ecotourism industry has built up around them. About 20,000 tourists travel to Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo to visit them. This generates revenue which can be used for conservation and raises awareness of the plight of the mountain gorilla.

However, tourists pose a risk to the gorillas in the form of disease transmission. Mountain gorillas, who share 98.5% of our DNA, are extremely vulnerable to human disease, especially respiratory infections. This causes one-fifth of all sudden deaths among gorillas, second only to death from trauma. Vets from the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project (a group of vets who monitor and treat gorillas suffering from life-threatening or human-caused disease and trauma) say that both the frequency and severity of outbreaks have been increasing in recent years.

Gorillas in Rwanda experienced outbreaks

Between May and August 2008, 4 groups of gorillas in Rwanda experienced outbreaks, with over a third of the population of each group succumbing to infection. One of these groups, the Hirwa group, was again affected in 2009, with 11 of the 12 group members affected. Some individuals were given antibiotics, but two untreated animals died. The cause of death was the human metapneumonovirus (HMPV), a virus that can cause severe respiratory infections in humans.

These deaths highlight the need for a new management system of close contact tourism activities. Mountain gorilla studies have shown that the average gorilla group is subjected to over 2000 visitor hours per year. With additional contact from researchers, guides, rangers and the growing local population, the risk of disease transmission is incredibly high. All of the countries with resident mountain gorilla populations strictly limit the number of tourists, and the length of time they can spend with the gorillas. Incredibly, only the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo insists that tourists wear surgical masks to reduce the risk of airborne infections.

Tourism can provide real benefits to gorillas, but with a total population of just 786, each individual is critically important to the survival of the species, and must be protected from preventable human-caused diseases.

Tags:

No comments yet.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published.*

Tick the box or answer the captcha.

You might also like

  • Flamingos Flee Lake Nakuru

    The reason for the abrupt exit is a rise in water levels of as much as 2 metres to a high last experienced over 60 years ago. As water levels increase, the salinity of the water is reduced, which in turn reduces the abundance of algae.

    By Alex Taylor

  • Antarctic Winners and Losers

    The impacts of climate change in the Antarctic will include temperature rise, sea-ice reduction and changes in food availability. Scientists from the British Antarctic Survey used risk assessments like those used in the workplace to determine which species will benefit and which are at risk.

    By Alex Taylor

  • Severe Weather Impacts Wildlife

    In 2017, Hurricane Irma offered scientists the chance to study the impact of a severe weather event on white-tailed deer. They discovered that the deer changed their movement rate and their habitat selection, thus are able to alter their behaviour in order to survive.

    By Alex Taylor