If you’re an ardent Gorilla lover, then you have most likely heard of the “Gorilla Doctors”. This is known as the only Organization devoted to the conservation of the two Eastern Gorilla species- Eastern lowland Gorillas (Grauer’s gorilla) and Mountain Gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) in their natural habitats. This, the Organization does through science and Veterinary medicine, while using the unique “One Health Approach”.
Gorilla Doctors comprises a local, regional, and International Veterinary team which is fundamental in providing hands-on medical assistance to injured and ill Gorillas (Eastern lowland and mountain gorillas). With a World population of about 1063 individuals (according to the 2018 Census), the endangered Mountain Gorillas are found in three countries – Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, while the Eastern lowland gorillas (with a population of about 6800 individuals) are only found in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Thanks to the declining population of the Eastern Gorillas, the health and overall well-being of every individual are important to the survival of these two subspecies of gorillas. The team of expert Veterinary Doctors monitors the health of Eastern gorillas from time to time, and steps in to provide treatment to individuals with life-threatening sickness or injury whenever possible.
HISTORY OF GORILLA DOCTORS
The Organization started in the 1980s with one American Veterinarian positioned in Rwanda, as the realization of the dream of American zoologist/Primatologist- Dian Fossey. Dian Fossey dedicated over 18 years of her life to protecting and studying mountain Gorillas in Volcanoes National Park.
Today, there are more than a dozen Veterinarians and Health Experts employed under the Organization, and they’re in all three countries where Eastern Gorillas live (Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo). The Doctors are always in-call 24/7 to provide treatment to injured and sick Eastern Gorillas.
Some of the renowned Gorilla Doctors through the years include Dr. Jan Ramer (who served as a regional veterinary manager between 2009 and 2011 and then from 2013 to 2015). She is known for leading several health interventions and oversaw the treatment of 8 new gorilla orphans and other programs. Dr. Dawn Zimmerman was in charge of managing the Gorilla Doctors programs at the regional base in Musanze between November 2011 and December 2023. Others include Dr. Felicia Nutter, Dr. David Gardener, Dr. Lucy Spelman, Dr. Magdalena Braum, Dr. Innocent Rwego, Dr. James Foster, and Dr. Liz Macfie among others.
GORILLA DOCTORS’ SUCCESS STORY
It’s no-brainer that the significant impact of Gorilla Doctors’ life-saving work is the growth of these Giant Apes’ population. Although they’re still endangered, the mountain gorillas are so far the only Gorilla sub-species whose population in the wild is growing. According to the 2010 Gorilla Census In the Virunga Conservation Area (Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo), it was discovered that their numbers grew by 26.3% over the preceding 7 years.
A study was done on the same population in 2011, and it was discovered that over two decades of people, the number of habituated mountain gorillas (that’s 70% of the entire population) had grown by 4.1% annually. This is evidence of Gorilla Doctors’ great works. Additionally, the unhabituated mountain gorilla population was discovered to have grown by 0.7% annually. Do you know the reason why habituated gorillas grow faster than the unhabituated ones? Well, it is because they accept humans in their proximity, in addition to benefiting from extreme conservation practices like Veterinary care. Therefore, it is not an overstatement to say Gorilla Doctors’ work is 40% responsible for the tremendous growth of Eastern lowland and Mountain gorilla populations in their natural habitats.
GORILLA DOCTORS’ HEALTHCARE PROGRAM
Gorilla Doctors undertake a Healthcare program that includes;
Undertaking Veterinary interventions
These include treating sick gorillas with painkillers or antibiotics or sometimes involve anesthetizing and treating these Giant Apes with human-induced or life-threatening painful injuries.
Monitoring Gorillas’ health
Another important healthcare program provided by the Gorilla Doctors involves monitoring the health of these Giant Apes. This is done to ensure the timely detection of injuries and illnesses.
Gorilla Doctors rescue and provide Veterinary Care to the Eastern Gorillas that have been orphaned by poachers and animal traffickers.
Preventive healthcare
Another program provided by the Gorilla Doctors includes providing preventive healthcare to committed Park personnel (Park Rangers, Trackers, Gorilla Researchers, and others) who work tirelessly to protect the Giant Apes in their natural habitats. Additionally, local community members and their livestock living close to Gorilla natural habitats are protected to reduce the risk of transmitting diseases to the Giant Apes, and vice versa.
Gorilla Doctors also study health trends for better prediction of disease outbreaks and their causes. This is done to reduce the risk of transmitting diseases to Gorillas.
Autopsy (Post-mortem) examinations
Gorilla Doctors conduct Autopsy examinations on dead gorillas, as a way of ascertaining the cause of their death. In so doing, they will learn about the general health problems that led to the death of the Gorilla.
Gorilla Doctors preserve biological samples (such as excrement, blood, urine, tissue, and DNA/Genetic material samples) to be used by Researchers across the World, examining primate health problems.