Are Gorilla Trekking Rules Strict Enough?
Over recent
years wildlife authorities across Eastern and Central Africa have been in
debate about making surgical respirator masks compulsory for tourists visiting
the great apes. Due to the close genetic link between gorillas and humans, the
risk of primates catching diseases such as the influenza virus is extremely
high. Hence, introducing the N95 respirator masks, which catch bacteria coming
from the wearer’s mouth and nose, could help minimize the transmittance of
airborne disease and improve the protection of the critically-endangered
gorillas.
Although, the
N95’s have not yet been made compulsory in all three countries where gorilla
tourism is offered, the Gorilla Organization’s African staff are constantly
encouraging the use of the respirators to visitors and staff members to ensure
the health and survival of our beautiful cousins, and, on
their regular excursions into the forests of the Virunga Mountains, they always
lead by example.
The debate has
become particularly heated now that gorilla tourism has gone from being a niche
activity for an intrepid few to being on the top of many people's travel
'bucket lists'. Indeed, trekking gorillas in Africa sounds like the perfect
trip to anyone who is looking for an adventurous, unique and undeniably breath
taking holiday; whether the journey goes to the DR Congo, Uganda or Rwanda,
gorilla tourism is currently at hype among western travellers.
Although, the
local authorities are not particularly strict on enforcing N95 masks, there are
some precautions that tourists as well as rangers have to follow when entering
the gorilla’s natural habitat. These include:
- The 7-metre rule prohibits visitors from getting in immediate contact with gorillas. Unfortunately, this is not always preventable as infant gorillas especially are very curious and like to explore and mingle with tourists and rangers.
- Tourist group sizes cannot exceed more then 8 people, due to the possibility of human-disease transmission and causing stress to gorillas by increased noise levels or pictures being taken (which is generally allowed without flash). Thus, the time spent on site is strictly limited to a maximum of 1 hour per tour.
- Each tourist is permitted to carry a bottle of water, a first aid kid and a camera, though not a specialist video camera without a special permit. Foods need to be eaten before getting in contact with gorillas and smoking is strictly prohibited throughout the entire tour.
Though great ape
tourism comes with numerous regulations and, some would say, appears to be of
some risk to the primates, it is of great significance as it helps fund a range
of conservation and local community projects. Funds that are being raised from
sold gorilla permits, which cost up to 500 USD per visitor, pay the wages of
rangers, most of whom are recruited form local communities, and fund
initiatives aimed at educating farmers and reformed poachers on issues such as
poaching and habitat loss. These are all concerns that the Gorilla Organization
shares, as poaching and habitat loss are still the most common threats primates
face.
This is why the
Gorilla Organization’s staff members educate local farmers on organic
sustainable agriculture, with the purpose of teaching individuals on how to
grow foods to support their families. Simultaneously this also prevents locals
from searching aliments in the forests, which aids to the protection of
gorillas natural habitat.
Written by Sharon Legae - Communications Assistant for the Gorilla Organization.
Reference:
Macfie, E., and Wiliamson, E. (2010) Best Practical Guideline
for Great Ape Tourism.
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The Gorilla Organization has worked to save the world's last remaining gorillas in the wild from extinction, carrying on through genocide, natural disasters and war.
Website - http://www.gorillas.org
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