Dead infant gorilla with the snare still attached to his ankle.

Approximately 480 mountain gorillas live in the Virunga Massif, a transboundary wilderness area encompassing Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Mgahinga National Park in Uganda. A second, smaller mountain gorilla population lives in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

“The tragic death of this mountain gorilla at the hands of humans is a blow to all of us who work to protect this critically endangered species,” says Dr. Mike Cranfield, executive director of MGVP. “With such a small population, the life of every individual counts." 

MGVP, a U.S.-based nonprofit, provides mountain gorillas with medical care for life-threatening injury and illness. The veterinarians work with national park rangers and trackers from research organizations like the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International to monitor the health of the gorillas on a daily basis. MGVP and its partners can only monitor habituated gorilla groups—groups that have grown accustomed to the presence of humans. About 73% of mountain gorillas in the Virunga Massif are habituated. In the last 25 years, MGVP has responded to more than 50 cases of habituated mountain gorillas caught in snares in the Virunga Massif and all but two gorillas survived after being treated by the veterinarians. The infant found dead on February 1 belonged to an unhabituated gorilla group.

A 2010 census of the mountain gorillas living in the Virunga Massif revealed that the number of habituated gorillas has grown by 3.7% annually while the number of unhabituated gorillas has grown at just 0.9% annually. A comprehensive research study published in 2011 in the scientific journal PLoS ONE (PLoS One 6(6): 1-8) attributed the high growth rate in habituated gorilla groups to the fact that these animals are monitored daily by the parks and receive life-saving veterinary care when serious health issues, such as ensnaring, arise.

All gorillas benefit from the national parks’ anti-poaching patrols, which remove snares and arrest poachers found in the parks. On average, anti-poaching patrols remove more than 1,500 snares from the Virunga Massif annually.

Eugene Rutagarama, director of the International Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP), a nonprofit organization that supports mountain gorilla monitoring and anti-poaching efforts, has called on the gorilla conservation community to help strengthen law enforcement in the parks and encourage local communities to condemn poaching.

The national park authorities and gorilla conservation NGOs will meet next week in DRC to discuss the recent poaching incident. “We will look at how to address the specific case related to this mountain gorilla and the poachers that are still at large, and also plan how we will collectively address the general issue of there being too many snares in this area shared between the two parks for far too long,” stated Teddy Musabe, Deputy Secretary in charge of policy and planning with the Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration (GVTC). The GVTC is a formal coordination mechanism among the three countries of DRC, Rwanda, and Uganda that works to find solutions to transboundary issues like poaching.

About the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project

The Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project, a U.S.-based nonprofit organization, is dedicated to saving mountain gorilla lives. With so few animals left in the world today, the organization believes it is critical to ensure the health and well being of every individual possible. The organization's international team of veterinarians, the Gorilla Doctors, is the only group providing wild mountain gorillas with direct, hands-on care. The Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project partners with the UC Davis Wildlife Health Center to advance One Health strategies for mountain gorilla conservation. www.gorilladoctors.org

About the UC Davis Wildlife Health Center

The UC Davis Wildlife Health Center, home of the Mountain Gorilla One Health Program and a center of excellence within the School of Veterinary Medicine, is composed of 13 epidemiologists, disease ecologists and ecosystem health clinicians and their staff working at the cutting edge of pathogen emergence and disease tracking in ecosystems. It benefits from the expertise of 50 other participating UC Davis faculty members from many disciplines who are involved in the discovery and synthesis of information about emerging zoonotic diseases (those transmitted between people and animals) and ecosystem health. Its mission is to balance the needs of people, wildlife and the environment through research, education and service. www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/whc. 

Press Contact:

Molly Feltner

MGVP Communications Officer

mollyfeltner@gmail.com

After a few months of preparation, two weeks of sheer packing panic, and the world’s fastest transfer of a life’s worth of possessions from a home to a storage locker, I was finally on my way to Africa for my new job as MGVP’s regional veterinary manager. Thirty hours after leaving my home in Memphis, Tennessee, I arrived at the MGVP headquarters in Musanze, Rwanda.

Africa! A new chapter in my life was starting. Leaving my family, friends, and cat Hanni was not easy, nor was leaving the job I loved as the senior veterinarian at the Memphis Zoo. However, I did it all for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make a tangible difference in the conservation of a critically endangered species in the wild. To be a Gorilla Doctor, saving the lives of mountain gorillas in the field: This is where all my aspirations to practice conservation medicine would become a reality. I could not wait to get started.

I knew I’d have a lot to learn my first few months in Africa and I’ve tried to face all of the new situations and physical and cultural challenges with a sense a humor. With that in mind, I thought for my first Gorilla Doctors blog that I would share with you 10 things I learned in the forest: 

Bwindi Forest, Uganda

 “The forest is my friend," I repeated to myself as a mantra on the steep muddy uphill climb in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. At times, the suction of the deep mud would keep my feet locked in place no matter how hard I pulled. I cursed myself for not ever properly knowing the actual size of my foot. Shoes were never a priority--until just this second. These boots were a bit big, and it appeared the muddy hillside was quite insistent on owning the pair. 

We were trekking to follow up on a report of weak infant mountain gorilla in the Kahunge group. Although this was not my first time in the forest, it was my first time in Bwindi, known for its treacherous terrain. It was on this climb, to avoid focusing on my footwear problem, that I started a mental list of the things I was learning as the new regional veterinary manager of MGVP. Here are just a few:

1. A walking stick is your best friend until it punches you in the eye as you fall in a hole.

I realize that the forest here does not cater to the whims of people. However, while never short of bruises and scratches, and frankly in awe of the unforgiving vines that seem to grow beneath my feet and lasso them to the ground, I feel lucky to walk in a forest that not many have. This is true wilderness, one of the ever-dwindling number of places on earth where Mother Nature calls the shots. And, as the walking stick gets caught up in a tree and I trip again, I would not have it any other way.

2. Scorpions and venomous snakes have nothing on the ants in Congo. 

Many people think the rainforest in Africa must be swarming with nasty bugs and snakes. However, as the region where mountain gorillas live is high altitude and relatively cool, there are very few dangerous insects and reptiles. But there are ants. The ants here must complete a rigorous training program on how to climb up rubber boots and pant legs undetected because many unsuspecting trekkers suddenly find themselves dancing in pain as ants bite their rear ends. The rangers in Congo are some of the most courageous people I have ever met. So, when I see them leap over anthills and run from ant columns marching across a trail, by God, I certainly will follow their lead.

3. Congolese mud could be marketed as a natural adhesive.

Here is our truck stuck in the mud in DRC:

It took a village to get it out:

4. There is a good reason I am not a dancer, yoga instructor, or any type of circus performer.

The forest here has shown me that I have very little sense of balance. At least I am a constant source of amusement to the porters, who tolerate my gracelessness and ease the pain of my many nettle stings by applying the milk from plant stems.

5. Physics does not apply to Uganda. 

Physicists need to come study Bwindi, because I’ve never been to a place where you can trek uphill to get to the gorillas, and then…somehow…trek uphill again to get back to where you started.

6. Chocolate does not keep well on a trip into the forest.
 
This makes me even sadder than the physics report.

7. No amount of physical training at sea level can prepare you for the altitude.

From someone who has lived at sea level her entire life, let me tell you that the concept of altitude is apparently not a myth. This whole lack of oxygen thing at higher altitudes exists and is very, very real--who knew?!  A gorilla trek in Rwanda can take you up over 3000 m (~10,000 feet) where one breathes in roughly 25% fewer oxygen molecules than at sea level. I am embarrassed to say this effect did not elude me. I was running up to 40 miles a week before moving to Rwanda, but not anymore. It took me awhile to notice that all the people passing me on my runs were actually walking.

8. The rangers and local people here are masters at learning different languages. I am not.

I have only been here for a month, and yet I am absolutely certain that I will never master the beautiful Rwandan language of Kinyarwanda. There are a lot of mw’s, k’s, and z’s and 4-, 5-, and 6- syllable words. And you can't just memorize and use nouns and adjectives—-the meaning of those words change depending on the adjective-noun combination. I will keep trying to learn new words everyday; meanwhile, the rangers and porters I trek with effortlessly mix 4 or 5 different languages in the same conservation (Kinyarwanda, Swahili, Lingala, English and French) just for fun!

9. Africa can teach you a lot if you’re willing to stay a while and learn.

It’s been said that you either fall in love with Africa or cross it off your list and move on. I’m enchanted by the place. It can be a tough place but if you pay attention to the lessons it has to teach—-you don’t need a lot of material goods to be happy, your problems are not so big or insurmountable, you can make a difference in the lives of other people and animals—-Africa can make you a stronger, better person. I’ve only been here a couple of months, but I’m sure Africa has a lot more to teach me.

10. This is an amazing place.

The most important thing I have learned is that the forest, the people, and the gorillas of Rwanda, Uganda, and DR Congo are more than amazing. The dedication of the rangers, park staff, NGO employees and others here who are protecting the environment and working towards a better life for local people is palpable and inspiring. The people, the forest, and the gorillas are all inextricably linked. I am lucky to be a part of it, for even the briefest moment.

Ihirwe with Caretaker Innocent.

On January 20, caretakers reported that Ihirwe was climbing a tree in the enclosure when she suddenly fell from a height of about 3 meters. She landed on her face and appeared to have hurt her mouth. There was a small amount of bleeding for approximately two minutes.

The caretakers called the MGVP office and Dr. Dawn and I drove to Kinigi to check on Ihirwe. When we arrived, Ihirwe appeared frightened but otherwise bright, alert, and responsive. No signs of neurological deficits were observed.  She even drank a bottle of milk shortly after the fall.

Ouch!Her mouth looked painful however and she was moving her tongue frequently. Two incisors (left mandibular I1 and I2) had been knocked forward, but not out, and I observed a mild hemorrhage along the associated gingival laceration.  Her jaw appeared stable with no sign of a fracture.  

Ihirwe drinking from a bottle.We decided to treat her with pain medicine and an antibiotic to prevent infection.  Later in the day the caretakers reported that she was eating normally. I visited her again the next day and she looked well. She did not show any signs of pain while eating. I looked at her mouth and her two incisors had loosened even more and flipped forward. The teeth are still attached to the gingival, but likely they will fall out on their own in time. These are baby teeth, so the early loss of the incisors will not impact her future.

The caretakers will report back to me if they notice any signs of trouble, but I think Ihirwe is on the mend.

You can follow the Gorilla Doctors health monitoring efforts on our Facebook page, where we post photos and notes from our monthly visits.

Please consider supporting MGVP by making a secure online donation. Every dollar you give goes to directly supporting our gorilla health programs and One Health initiative. Thank you for your generosity.

Kabirizi eating with his family.This Blog was written by Dr. Eddy from Virunga National Park, DRC.

On the morning January 20, I left the Bukima patrol post with a group of trackers to find Kabirizi group. Along the way we encountered the night nest of the silverback Mukunda, who still stays by himself in the forest. About 30 minutes later we met a wild or unhabituated gorilla group, a very rare occurrence. The group was quiet initially but later they moved away, with the silverbacks charging and screaming at us. We know from the 2010 census that there are several large unhabituated groups in Viurnga.

Almost 3.5 hours after starting our trek, we found Kabirizi group. The weather was sunny and almost all of the gorillas were sitting under shade in the bushes which made our observation quite long and difficult.  We counted 33 individuals, including Kabirizi himself.

Kabirizi's injured foot.I realized that Kabirizi was quieter than usual. He was not charging, hiding, or running, and was eating out in the open with his family members. Normally Kabirizi does not like being observed by people, and stays hidden in the vegetation, keeping the group’s babies close to him for protection.  I noticed that Kabirizi has many healing wounds on his left shoulder and thigh and a large cut (about 7cm) on his right heel which was healing but not allowing him to walk properly. He was limping on the right side and using his left leg a lot while walking.

Kabirizi is missing his canines.Some time ago, Kabirizi lost his upper and lower canine teeth during a fight with another gorilla. I think that his lack of canines, his defensive weapons, is one of the reasons why it is easy for the other silverbacks in the group to take advantage of him in fights. The younger silverback Bagheni  been fighting with Kabirizi on a regular basis now, and Kabirizi most often loses the battles. Another young silverback in the group, Mugeni, is also starting to challenge Kabirizi.

While the other gorillas in the group appear healthy, Kabirizi is declining due to a combination of aging and frequent fighting with the other silverbacks. It will be very interesting to see how the dynamics in the family change this year.

Research Notes:  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 killed a number of other male gorillas while defending his family.

Dr. Eddy observes a silverback in Humba group during a health check.

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. MGVP is only able to monitor and treat gorillas in habituated groups—groups that have grown accustomed to the presence of humans after a long process of being gradually approached by people. Luckily for the Gorilla Doctors, most of our patients are easy to find and comfortable being observed at close range. About 73% of mountain gorillas in the Virunga Massif are habituated while about 50% are habituated in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

The Gorilla Doctors visit every habituated mountain gorilla group once per month to perform a thorough visual health check. During a routine health check, the veterinarian tries to make visual contact with each member of the gorilla group in order to check a variety of health parameters:

• Body condition: Does the animal look well fed and healthy?
• Activity: Is the animal alert? Does it show any signs of weakness or lethargy?
• Respiration: Is the animal breathing well? Is it coughing or sneezing?
• Skin and Hair: Does the animal have any visible wounds, skin lesions, or unusual growths? Is its coat dull, discolored, or falling out?
• Head/Face Discharge: Does the animal have any visible signs of illness on its head or face such as a runny nose or eye discharge?
• Stool: Does the animal’s stool appear normal?

Careful notes are taken for each animal. When a gorilla is found to be suffering from human-induced or life-threatening injury or illness, the Gorilla Doctors, in collaboration with national park authorities, make plans to medically intervene in order to save the animal.

In addition to the veterinarians’ monthly checks, MGVP relies heavily on the observations of the trackers working for the national parks and organizations like Karisoke Research Center of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International. The trackers see the gorillas every day and are trained by the Gorilla Doctors to look for any behavioral changes and other signs that could indicate illness and injury. Concerns are reported back to the Gorilla Doctors who follow up to perform own visual health checks.

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). IMPACT was originally designed by programmer Rich Minus and was recently revamped by Medical Decision Logic.

A Karisoke Research Center tracker records notes for the IMPACT system.Thanks to the improved system, we’re now training trackers to record their observations in IMPACT rather than simply reporting to MGVP when a problem is noted. By keeping an organized record of the daily observations of the trackers, the Gorilla Doctors and other researchers will have a much more in-depth understanding of the health trends in the population as well as a clearer picture of the overall health of individual gorillas. A group of 40 trackers from Volcanoes National Park and Karisoke Research were trained to use the IMPACT system this January. Trackers in Uganda and DR Congo will also receive training in the upcoming months.

You can follow the Gorilla Doctors health monitoring efforts on our Facebook page, where we post photos and notes from our monthly visits.

Please consider supporting MGVP by making a secure online donation. Every dollar you give goes to directly supporting our gorilla health programs and One Health initiative. Thank you for your generosity.

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 its 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:

Infant gorilla in Bwenge group, Rwanda.1. Trek to see the mountain gorillas in Rwanda, DR Congo, or Uganda.

Without gorilla tourism, mountain gorillas might have gone extinct. The regions where mountain gorillas live are home to the densest human populations in Africa. Most of the people living in these areas are farmers, so land is critical to their livelihoods. However, the governments of Rwanda, Uganda, and DR Congo have kept the gorilla’s volcano habitat off-limits to agriculture  in order to protect the gorillas, largely because the revenue gained through tourism outweighs the value of forested slopes for other purposes. Gorilla trekking permits are pricey ($400 in DR Congo, $500 in Uganda, and $750 in Rwanda), but by purchasing permits, you’re not only buying a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with this charismatic species, you’re providing the economic incentive for the gorillas’ protection. Visit the tourism websites for gorilla trekking Rwanda, DR Congo, and Uganda to learn more.

2. Do not trek to see gorillas if you are sick.

Due to the genetic similarity between humans and mountain gorillas, gorillas are susceptible to many of the same infectious diseases that affect people. Mountain gorillas are also immunologically naïve to some diseases, meaning they are particularly susceptible to certain human diseases because of their historic isolation from people. Research conducted by the Gorilla Doctors and other scientists has proven that mountain gorillas have died as a result of infections that originated in people. Infectious disease, after trauma, is the leading cause of death in mountain gorillas, accounting for 20% of acute mortality. The most common infection is respiratory disease, which can range from mild colds to severe pneumonia. To protect gorillas from such infections, the national park authorities ask that anyone feeling sick or running a fever to not trek gorillas.

3. Stay at least 7 meters away from the gorillas.

In order to reduce the risk of disease transmission and to avoid changing or disturbing the gorillas’ natural behavior, the Gorilla Doctors have worked national park authorities to establish the rule of staying 7 meters (21 feet) or more from the gorillas at all times. The gorillas themselves, especially youngsters, don’t know the rules and may approach humans, but tourists should make the effort to back away and avoid touching the animal if possible. The 7-meter rule should be observed at all times, even when gorillas leave the national park and venture on to property owned by tourist lodges and camps.

The Gorilla Doctors prepare to dart an injured gorilla with antibiotics.4. Donate to conservation organizations working to protect mountain gorillas.

One of the most effective ways to help mountain gorillas is to donate money to organizations working on the ground to conserve the species. Numerous organizations including MGVP have spent decades finding effective methods for protecting mountain gorillas, and most rely on grants and donations to fund their work.

When donating your money to support any cause, it’s important to evaluate the organization you’re considering supporting to determine how successful the group is in carrying out its mission. You should find the answers to questions like,  “What methods does the organization use to accomplish its stated goals?” and “Does the organization have any data or statistics to show that its methods are having an impact?” An organization’s website and annual reports should provide this information, or you can always send an inquiry to their public information or development officer.

MGVP is proud to be the only organization providing direct life-saving medical care to mountain gorillas in the wild. Research has shown that the work of the Gorilla Doctors and the anti-poaching efforts of the park rangers and trackers we work with is responsible for up to 40% of the growth of the human-habituated mountain gorilla population in the Virunga Massif over the last 10 years. Donations can be made through the Gorilla Doctors website.

View of the lava lake from the top of the Nyiragongo volcano in DR Congo.5. When visiting the region, do other activities in the parks in addition to gorilla trekking.

The vast majority of tourists who visit the national parks where gorillas live spend a day or two trekking gorillas and then leave. However, all of the gorilla parks offer other amazing wilderness experiences. As with gorilla trekking, the revenue earned through these activities further incentivizes the governments and local people to protect mountain gorilla habitat. You can climb the active Nyiragongo volcano in DR Congo, home to the world’s largest lava lake, or can climb extinct volcanoes in Rwanda and Uganda, such as the snow-covered Mt. Karismibi or the fluted peaks of Mt. Sabyinyo. Both Rwanda and Uganda offer treks to see golden monkeys (another highly endangered primate), and in Rwanda you may also visit the gravesite and former research station of Dian Fossey. Ask your tour provider about the options available.

An Itore dancer at the Iby'Iwacu Cultural Village.6. Support local businesses and community projects around the national parks.

As much effort as the governments and conservation organizations put into protecting the gorillas, the support of the local people surrounding the parks is vital to ensure the preservation of gorilla habitat and the conservation of mountain gorillas. The more that local people share in tourism revenue and benefit from non-profit and community efforts in the area, the more likely they are to want to protect the mountain gorillas. Tourists can help by frequenting local restaurants, shops, and other businesses, or by making contributions to community projects around the park. For instance, tourists can pay to visit the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village near Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda, which employs former poachers as cultural interpreters and performers. 

7. Don't buy products made with wild animal parts.

While mountain gorillas are very rarely targeted by poachers, other animals living in the national parks where gorillas live are actively hunted. Poachers mostly set snares to catch small antelopes to bring home to their families for food but occasionally larger animals such as buffalo or elephants may be targeted. Gorillas often get caught in poachers’ snares set for other animals. Furthermore, poachers’ very presence in the forest disturbs the environment and increases the risk of zoonotic disease transmission. While the main purpose of poaching is to obtain bush meat, wild animal skins, bones, and ivory may be used in crafts and other items sold to tourists. If you have any doubt about a product’s origins, don’t buy it. And certainly, in the rare instance you may see or hear of someone selling a live wild animal, report it to the national park authorities.

8 . Trek with a tour provider that donates a portion of the trip cost towards conservation efforts.

When researching tour packages to see gorillas, consider booking with a provider that directs a portion of their profits to support conservation projects. For example, Terra Incognita Ecotours, which offers 8-day Rwanda tours including a visit with the Gorilla Doctors, donates a portion of the trip cost to MGVP. In DR Congo, you can book packages including permits, transport, and accommodations directly through Virunga National Park, which puts profits right back into the park itself.

9. Organize a fundraiser.

Can’t afford to make significant personal donation or travel to Africa? Organize or participate in a fundraiser to help raise money for mountain gorilla conservation. In the past, schools have raised money for MGVP through bake sales and fun runs. Travelers and volunteers visiting gorillas in Rwanda have sold gorilla t-shirts to raise money to pay for their trips and make a donation to MGVP. One of biggest our fans even raised $30,000 in donations and pledges by walking 228 miles from Seattle to Portland, Oregon!

10. Spread the word about mountain gorilla conservation.

Anyone can make a difference for the gorillas by telling their friends, family, and colleagues about the mountain gorillas and the efforts being made to save them. Remember that even though mountain gorillas are critically endangered, their story is a positive one! Mountain gorillas are the only subspecies of non-human great ape growing in number. Fewer than 250 animals were counted in the mid-80s when Dian Fossey was researching the gorillas but today the population numbers nearly 800 animals. This species has a fighting chance for survival if we continue to work to address conservation challenges.

Please consider supporting MGVP by making a secure online donation. Every dollar you give goes to directly supporting our gorilla health programs and One Health initiative. Thank you for your generosity.

Dr. Dawn with a baby orangutan.Those of us on the staff of the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project are happy to welcome our newest Gorilla Doctor, Dr. Dawn Zimmerman, who will serve as the regional veterinary manager at our headquarters in Musanze, Rwanda. Taking over the position from Dr. Jan, Dr. Dawn will manage our veterinary and one health programs in Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uganda, including leading gorilla health monitoring and medical interventions, supervising the staff and interns, liaising with partners, and facilitating research.

“I still have a lot to learn about working with the different cultures, languages, and governments,” says Dr. Dawn. “However, MGVP’s extremely capable and friendly staff has been great in helping me settle into my new position and life in Africa.”

Dr. Dawn comes to us from the Memphis Zoo, where she worked for 8 years, most recently as the senior veterinarian. Originally from California, Dr. Dawn earned a BS at UC Davis and an MS in biology and ecology at San Diego State University before graduating with honors from the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2001.

Dr. Dawn with a black rhino in South Africa.While working at the Memphis Zoo, Dr. Dawn won numerous grants to perform field work with wild animals overseas. She helped reintroduce black and white ruffed lemurs and diademed sifaka in Madagascar, collected research samples from immobilized black rhinos in South Africa, performed a biomedical survey on brown hyenas in the Namib Desert, and assisted in an educational program as a lecturer and instructor for the conservation of Siberian tigers in Russia.

First hearing about MGVP at an American Association of Zoo Veterinarians meeting, Dr. Dawn kept in contact with MGVP Executive Director Dr. Mike, waiting for a potential job opening. “I went to veterinary school with a job like this in my mind as the ultimate goal,” says Dr. Dawn. “Working with animals in a zoo setting is amazing--they are ambassadors for their wild counterparts--but being able help a critically endangered species in the wild is, to me, the epitome of conservation medicine.”

“To work with mountain gorillas is particularly special,” says Dr. Dawn. “They are so intelligent and they allow us to enter into their realm and share their space. Their acceptance of our presence in their lives is probably one of the most important reasons why the species still exists.  Without it, tourism and health monitoring as it currently exists would not be possible.”

On December 13, the Chief Park Warden of Virunga National Park, Emmanuel de Merode, called Dr. Eddy to report that rangers had found a mountain gorilla caught in a poacher’s trap in the Jomba region of the park. The gorilla, Dunia, a four- or five-year-old female belonging to the Mapuwa family, had a rope snare around her right wrist and the wrist appeared swollen and possibly lacerated. Ranger Desire Sekibibi was able to cut the long end of the rope from the vegetation where it was tied. While Dunia was free to move with the rest of the group, the actual snare remained tight around her wrist. Ensnared gorillas can lose limbs and possibly die from infections in the snare wounds, so Dunia’s situation was an emergency.

Drs. Jan, Eddy, and Jean-Felix.Emmanuel asked the Gorilla Doctors for help, and an intervention team was quickly formed to travel to DR Congo. Dr. Jean-Felix joined Dr. Eddy at the MGVP headquarters in Rwanda and Dr. Jan, who thought she had finished her final day of work with MGVP last week, was called out of retirement for one last intervention. Because Jomba is on the far northern end of the Virunga Massif in Congo, it was fastest to travel through Uganda reach the group’s location. The Gorilla Doctors spent the night in Kisoro, Uganda, and planned an intervention for early the next morning. Silverbacks are usually extremely agitated and aggressive the day a member of their family is caught in a snare, so it is considered safer to give the group a night to calm down before intervening. 

Trekking to find the group.On the morning of the 14^th, the Gorilla Doctors met a team of Virunga National Park rangers at the Congo border and drove to Jomba to begin the trek near the base of the Sabyinyo volcano. An advance team of trackers and rangers found the group eating wild banana trees inside a narrow crater on the side of the mountain.

Dunia hides behind Mapuwa.The Mapuwa family has 15 members, including two silverbacks, Mapuwa and Nvuyekure, and blackback Mambo. The team found most of the group feeding on banana trees with Nvuyekure. However, Mapuwa and Mambo were about 75 meters from the rest of the group guarding Dunia. At first it was difficult to see Dunia clearly, as Mapuwa and Mambo kept her hidden the dense vegetation.

Mambo.After a few minutes, Mambo sat down within 3 meters of the intervention team and blocked their access to the trail so that Mapuwa and Dunia could return to the rest of the group. 

Dunia walks by Mambo.The Gorilla Doctors were able to get a good look at Dunia as she passed by and the snare was gone! She was clearly limping in pain and had a small wound on her wrist, but with the snare off, so she was no longer in immediate danger.

No snare!The Gorilla Doctors and park rangers consulted with Emmanuel de Merode by phone to determine the best course action. Dr. Eddy recommended that Dunia be darted with antibiotic and anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce her pain and the possibility of infection rather than sedate her for a full examination. A full examination would allow the doctors to inspect the wounded wrist up close and determine if Dunia had other injuries, but using anesthesia always carries risks for the gorilla. Having one of its members sedated and inspected by humans also greatly disturbs gorilla groups. The silverbacks may become violent or the whole group might flee and leave the sedated animal behind. It is challenging to make such veterinary decisions when working with wild animals in an uncontrolled environment, so it was important to consider the options for Dunia carefully. Eventually, the group decided to follow Dr. Eddy’s recommendations.

Discussing the options.

Once Dunia had joined the rest of group, the silverbacks relaxed and Dr. Eddy and Ranger Desire were able to approach her. Hiding the dart gun behind Desire so that Dunia would not see it and flee, Dr. Eddy shot a dart into her thigh. Dunia quietly pulled the dart out and walked away.

After the darting.

Thanks to the snare coming off on its own and the easy darting, the day proved a great success. The Gorilla Doctors and rangers are still concerned for Dunia’s recovery, so rangers will monitor her closely over the next few days. If she continues to limp or shows signs of infection, the Gorilla Doctors will return to perform another intervention.

Here is a video of the intervention:

Please consider supporting MGVP by making a secure online donation. Every dollar you give goes to directly supporting our gorilla health programs and One Health initiative. Thank you for your generosity.

Dr. Jan (Photo by LuAnne Cadd)

Dr. Jan with Shamavu.I remember my first trek to the gorillas with Dr. Jean Felix.  Group 13 (now Agashya group) – one of the closest groups.  My heart was pounding in my ears and my breath was ragged when we found the group maybe 30 minutes from the wall (turns out that was an easy trek and I am in MUCH better shape now!).  But when I saw my first wild mountain gorilla, Agashya, the silverback leader in that group, I was overwhelmed with emotion, and all pain and exhaustion was forgotten.  I am still overwhelmed with emotion when I see the gorillas. Every time.  It is such an honor to be in their presence.

Dr. Jan performing an intervention.As I look back over the my time here I am simply amazed at all we have accomplished – snare removals, respiratory disease treatments, moving Mukunda back to the forest. Twice!  We moved 12 orphan gorillas to permanent homes in DRC, provided first response to 6 new gorilla orphans.   I could go on and on.  I leave a piece of my heart here - with my MGVP family, including our house dogs crazy Chewy, sweet Danny and shy Fox.  With the gorillas.  With my dear, dear friends.

-Dr. Jan

The MGVP aims to employ outstanding African veterinarians and mentor the next generation of wildlife health experts. To do so, we sponsor educational programs at African schools and universities and continuing education for our staff members. By investing in training we are ultimately envisioning the time when in-country veterinarians will be the primary providers of mountain gorilla veterinary care.  Read on to learn about these efforts.

Drs. Mike Cranfield and Jean Bosco Nizeyi.Makerere University 

Since 1996, the MGVP has partnered with Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, to build up and support the top veterinary medicine and animal health programs in the Great Lakes region of Africa. MGVP Executive Director Dr. Mike Cranfield and Research Veterinarian Dr. Jean Bosco Nizeyi, also known as JBN, lead our efforts at the Wildlife and Animal Resource Management (WARM) department within Makerere’s veterinary school.  Over the years, MGVP has renovated and built new facilities, sponsored public lectures and an annual field-training workshop for students, supported numerous graduate student research projects, developed curriculum, and donated equipment and supplies. 

JBN will soon embark on his 15th year teaching at Makerere where he has mentored more than 70 veterinary and wildlife health students. Several of his former students, including Dr. Benard Ssebide, Dr. Julius Nziza, Dr. Fred Nizeyimana, and Dr. Rachael Mbabazi, are now full-time MGVP employees. JBN helped other veterinary school graduates to create the Uganda Wildlife Veterinary Network, an association designed to promote research, conservation, partnerships and excellence among veterinarians in Uganda. 

Currently, we are working to transform WARM into a fully-fledged disease surveillance department thanks to funding from the UC Davis PREDICT program, the Mountain Gorilla Conservation Fund, and Canadian Friends of MGVP. We are renovating a large animal facility to add new laboratories, office space, and a modernized lecture hall, as well as  installing the region’s first wildlife bio bank. With these new and improved facilities, students, veterinarians, and other scientists will be able to process, analyze, and store biological samples collected during disease outbreak investigations.

Drs. Julius Nziza and Olivier Nsengimana collect samples from bats.

Other Universities

The MGVP accepts interns and volunteers enrolled in veterinary medicine or animal resource management degree programs at African universities to work on projects in Rwanda. Students gain valuable field and laboratory skills that can help them secure good jobs after graduation. The MGVP has been able to hire several former interns, including Drs. Jean Bosco Noheli and Olivier Nsengimana.

MGVP is currently seeking funding to help upgrade the veterinary schools at the University of Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Umutara Polytechnic University in Rwanda.

An Art of Conservation Student prentends to be a Gorilla Doctor. (Photo: Art of Conservation)Rwandan Primary Schools

The MGVP collaborates with the non-profit organization Art of Conservation (AoC) to promote education on improving wildlife and community health in primary schools bordering Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park.  Our veterinarians perform demonstrations showing how and why mountain gorillas are treated for sickness and injury to students enrolled in AoC’s extracurricular conservation and health education program. Using masks, stethoscopes, a compressed air gun, and empty darts, the veterinarians and children simulate gorilla health interventions. During discussions, students learn that becoming a Gorilla Doctor is a possible career path.  Following our visit, AoC students create drawings and paintings depicting themselves as Gorilla Doctors.

Continuing Education for Staff

The MGVP funds employees seeking to refine their skills and learn new techniques through attendance at workshops, conferences, graduate programs, and other educational opportunities.

This past year, Dr. Jean Bosco Noheli trained at the Indianapolis and Maryland Zoos in February, while Dr. Eddy Kambale spent the month of July working at the California National Primate Research Center at UC Davis. In November, Dr. Jean-Felix Kinani completed his Masters of Field Epidemiology at the National University of Rwanda.

Please consider supporting MGVP by making a secure online donation. Every dollar you give goes to directly supporting our gorilla health programs and One Health initiative. Thank you for your generosity.