August 2014 Newsletter

Two gorilla lives were saved this month when Gorilla Doctors successfully freed a mountain and a Grauer's gorilla caught in poachers' snares in emergency medical interventions. We also take a look at the current Ebola pandemic sweeping through West Africa and discuss important steps being taken to protect the eastern gorillas and human populations in central Africa. Also this month, PREDICT Research Project Coordinator Dr. Julius Nziza participates in fascinating research on bat genetics at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago.

Gorilla Docs Free Grauer's Gorilla 'Busasa' from Snare

It took two days of trekking and eight hours of waiting in Kahuzi Biega National Park for Drs. Eddy, Martin and Mike to get a good opportunity to dart 9-year-old Busasa with an anesthetic drug, so that they could remove a wire snare from his arm. Fortunately, the intervention was a complete success, and Busasa is now snare-free!

Ebola Pandemic Highlights Importance of PREDICT

The Gorilla Doctors PREDICT veterinarians have spent the last four years humanely collecting thousands of samples from live wild animals that live in close proximity to people and gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda, looking for viruses that could pose an emerging pandemic threat for people. In light of the ongoing Ebola outbreak in West Africa, we take a look at how Ebola virus threatens gorillas and other great apes, and what the Gorilla Doctors are doing to protect the critically endangered animals from disease.

Drs. Eddy & Martin Help Save Ensnared Infant Kagera

Virunga National Park trackers spotted a nylon snare wrapped around the leg of Kagera, one of the mountain gorilla infants in Bageni group. Drs. Eddy and Martin mobilized rapidly to Rumangabo on August 17, trekking into the national park to find the group, free the baby and treat his wounds.

Gorilla Doctors Investigate Silverback's Sudden Death

Silverback Mushikirano ("Rano"), leader of Titus group, died suddenly on July 28, leaving field teams baffled as to what could cause the sudden death of this young and seemingly healthy silverback. His body was carried down the mountain and transported to the Gorilla Doctors headquarters, where a necropsy was conducted by Drs. Jean Felix and Noel to get answers.

Dr. Julius Studies Bat Genetics at The Field Museum

Dr. Julius Nziza, Gorilla Doctors Country Coordinator for PREDICT Rwanda, is wrapping up an interesting six-week stint in Chicago at The Field Museum of Natural History where he studied the genetics of bat species in Rwanda and learned how to curate museum specimens.

A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Generous Donors!

On behalf of the Gorilla Doctors team and our gorilla patients, we would like to thank our loyal and committed supporters who donated $22,900 in response to our mid-year fundraising campaign. Your generous support ensures every gorilla suffering from a life-threatening injury or illness will receive the critical veterinary care he or she needs!

Saving a Species, One Gorilla at a Time.

About Us

Powered by the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project and the UC Davis Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, Gorilla Doctors is dedicated to saving mountain and Grauer's gorilla lives through hands-on medical care and a One Health approach. Gorilla Doctors helps gorillas by monitoring their health, providing direct care to ill and injured gorillas, and by reducing the threat of human disease transmission.

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Research has proven that by intervening to save sick and injured mountain gorillas, the Gorilla Doctors has played a vital role in the population's dramatic increase over the last 10 years.

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Gorilla Doctors : Saving a Species. One Gorilla at a Time.

Support Our Work:

As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, we rely on donations from people like you to fund our hard work. Help us to protect these magnificent, critically endangered primates by making a donation.