June 29, 2010
What is it about this place and this experience that is so inspiring, thought-provoking, and just darn emotional!? Today was a lecture that I have been waiting for since the beginning of the session: the Mountain Gorilla One Health Project. How many "Manny friendly" words can we get in one sentence!?! Dr. Mike Cranfield, Director, discussed his work with this non-profit organization that provides veterinary services to the mountain gorillas of Rwanda, Uganda, and the DRC. The Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project (MGVP) was established in 1986 with funds from the Morris Animal Foundation (based in Denver), and their primary goal is to maintain the health of this critically endangered species. Currently, there are about 700 animals left on the planet and they all live in this protected area of Africa shared by these three countries. There isn't a single mountain gorilla in any zoo in any country. The only way to see them is to spend $500 for a guided trek into the forest (one of which is named The Impenetrable Forest - just to give you an idea of the type of landscape). The MGVP was the first of its kind to provide veterinary care to a species directly in their habitat. Never do they remove animals from this protected area. 56 people a day can make the trek to see these habituated animals. In one year, each gorilla will see 2,000-3,000 people! While this tourism generates a great deal of revenue for these impoverished countries, it doesn't come without a cost to the gorillas. Because of the genetic similarity between gorillas and humans, many human diseases (Tuberculosis, measles, Herpes, HIV) can be passed to the animals. Rwanda has begun requiring tourists to wear a face mask to reduce transmission, but this is still not a widespread practice in the other countries. Also, tourists are generally stressed, sleep-deprived, and immune suppressed because of their travels making them an even greater risk to the gorillas.
The MGVP is very selective with regard to their interventions and type of treatments they provide. For example, they typically only intervene if the gorilla's injuries or disease is life threatening or human induced (i.e. hunter snares). They must also consider social structure within the gorilla populations. If they remove a solitary male from an area this might encourage new competitor males to enter their territory. Unrelated males will often act aggressively toward the infant and young gorillas - their behavior typically results in the death of the young. The work MGVP does is very calculated and conservative - the animals have to be allowed to live as naturally as possible. However, because of their extremely precarious situation and the location of their habitat (frequent conflict between countries), health-related interventions are required for their survival. One might consider the MGVP's work a success - in the last 10 years, gorilla populations have risen 17%.
But that isn't the whole story. These mountain gorillas are a perfect example of the need for a "one health" approach. Not only are the animals subjected to hunter snares, infectious disease from ecotourism, and human conflict, but they are also feeling pressure from the 8 million villagers living on the outskirts of their protected area. Resources are scarce and the local people use the mountainous land for agriculture and livestock. They clear vast sections of trees for their crops, leading to severe erosion of the once forested landscape. One health is about the interaction between animals (wildlife, livestock, companion), humans, and the environment. The mountain gorillas are actually the perfect case study for these complex relationships - the health of one is completely dependent on the health of the other. If the mountain gorillas are to step back from the brink of extinction, it's going to take a multidimensional approach. MGVP is absolutely necessary, but in addition there will need to be a redistribution of local resources as well as community education. Local people need adequate health care and sanitation. Somehow we have to find a way to make this work or risk losing this magnificent animal forever.
In case you couldn't have guessed, as soon as Dr. Cranfield finished his lecture I jumped up and introduced myself. I told him that I wanted to help - that I was serious about being a part of the project. I felt the wheels turning - how could I position myself to be an asset to the project? What skills can I bring? What experiences do I need? How can I save the mountain gorilla?
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