Top 10 Ways to Protect Mountain Gorillas
The recent popular YouTube video showing a tourist being touched by wild mountain gorillas has captivated more than a million viewers and will likely inspire many travelers to book a trip to visit mountain gorillas themselves.
While the desire to connect with one of our closest relatives is an innate reaction, such close contact with this endangered species is not in the best interest of their conservation. Disease transmission due to contact with humans is a very real problem for mountain gorillas, some of whom have become ill as a result of their proximity to humans. That said, tourism and the work of scientists, researchers, and other experts with gorillas are absolutely vital to the species' survival.
For those of you looking to make a positive impact on mountain gorilla conservation, the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project would like to suggest 10 ways in which you can help. Read More
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We owe a debt of gratitude to everyone who contributed to our recent end-of-the-year campaign. Thanks to your many generous donations and the matching funds provided by our good friends Cleve and Patsy Moler, we raised nearly $100,000 for the veterinary care of gorillas! As a small organization, these funds will make a huge positive impact on our initiatives in Africa. As mentioned in this month's article "Top 10 Ways to Protect Mountain Gorillas," your donations to MGVP help us to continue our legacy of saving mountain gorilla lives in the field-a legacy that has led to remarkable growth within the mountain gorilla population. Thanks for being a part of the team, we couldn't do it without you!
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Approaching the age of 2, orphan Ihirwe is quite a rambunctious little gorilla and grows bolder by the day. People passing by the MGVP's gorilla quarantine facility in Kinigi even at a distance might glimpse Ihirwe scrambling in tree branches high above the ground. It's amazing to think that an infant could be so brave and agile! But like any infant, Ihirwe sometimes gets into trouble on her adventures. Several days ago Ihirwe fell out of a tree and nearly knocked her two front teeth out. Fortunately the Gorilla Doctors are always ready and nearby to take care of medical problems affecting mountain gorilla orphans. Read Dr. Noel's report about Ihirwe's accident.
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Kabirizi's Role as King of Virunga Threatened
Kabirizi has been one of the most successful silverbacks in Virunga National Park, having sired dozens of babies during his 14-year reign as leader of Kabirizi group. Famous for his aggressiveness towards people and other gorillas, Kabirizi has injured and killed a number of other male gorillas while defending his family. However, Dr. Eddy's recent observations of the group made during a routine health check seem to indicate that Kabirizi's role as King of Virunga may be threatened. Read Dr. Eddy's report on the Gorilla Doctor's blog.
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How do the Gorilla Doctors keep mountain gorillas healthy? The first step, and the foundation of our gorilla healthcare program, is gorilla health monitoring-visually observing the members of gorilla groups on a regular basis to check for signs of illness or injury. To keep track of the health histories of the different gorillas the Gorilla Doctors record their health check data in a system called IMPACT (Internet Management Program to Assist Conservation Technologies). Recent improvements to this program will allow the Gorilla Doctors to gain a much broader understanding of the health of each gorilla group. Read More.
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