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Healthy Gorilla | Healthy Community

Mountain Gorilla Veterinarians

Conservation Medicine

The One Health Approach for Conservation (OHAC) – Gorilla Health contributes to develop and improve measures to control and/or eradicate livestock and wildlife animal diseases in the Country. Ensured planning and implementation of conservation policy control measures and eradication procedures for outbreak of infectious, contagious wildlife animal diseases and provide data with high quality samples within the One Health framework. We contribute and participated in field studies, investigations, necropsies and surveillance projects related to wildlife animal in protected areas

Dian Fossey Legacy: Upon her arrival at the gorilla habitat, Dian Fossey encountered a forest besieged by various threats such as deforestation, poaching, cattle grazing and other human encroachments. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Fossey swiftly initiated measures to combat these challenges including the request for the first veterinarian. She understood that without immediate and resolute intervention, any efforts towards long-term conservation would be futile.

With The One Health Approach for Conservation (OHAC) – Gorilla Health support, our Veterinary interventions account for up to 60 per cent of the difference in growth rates between habituated versus unhabituated gorillas: with the remaining difference likely arising from greater protection against poachers. Our team various countries in East and Central Africa advising others on setting up programs similar to the ones he devised in the Virunga massif. OHAC- Gorilla health experts travel to various universities in the Great Lakes Region and train the next generation of conservation scientists.

The Mountain Gorillas traverse national boundaries where Mgahinga, Volcanoes, and Virunga National Parks converge. Estimates suggest a population of approximately 604 mountain gorillas. Classified as Endangered by the IUCN Red List, the Mountain Gorilla’s range includes Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. These gorillas inhabit the dense, cloud-covered rainforests of the Virunga Volcanoes, situated at elevations between 2,000-4,000 meters within the National Parks of Mgahinga and Bwindi (Uganda), Volcanoes (Rwanda), and Virunga (Democratic Republic of Congo). Primary threats include habitat loss due to road construction, deforestation for agriculture and logging, poaching for bushmeat, or unintentional capture in traps set for other species, as well as diseases like Ebola and other respiratory illnesses transmitted by humans.

We maintained a database on wildlife major disease events in the country and reported annually wildlife diseases occurrence. We Contribute to development and improvements of measures to control and/or eradicate livestock and wildlife animal diseases in the Country. Ensure planning and implementation of conservation policy control measures and eradication procedures for outbreak of infectious and contagious wildlife animal diseases within the One Health framework strongly supported by the United Nation Environment Programme (UNEP). We contributed, participated and trained worldwide veterinarians and biologists in field studies, investigations, necropsies and surveillance projects related to wildlife in the Virunga Massif, The Nyungwe National Park, the Akagera National, the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and different other East Africa protected areas.

We investigate as well Transboundary Animal Diseases (TADs) which are epidemic diseases that are highly contagious and have the potential to rapidly spread, irrespective of borders, causing serious socio-economic damage. We work on the Trypanosomiasis (The potential economic benefits of controlling trypanosomiasis using waterbuck repellent blend in sub-Saharan Africa – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34283848/)

We provide lectures on different courses: Epidemiology, One Health concept, wildlife diseases and Primatology in different universities in Rwanda (University of Rwanda and Conservation Colleges (KCCEM), and in Senegal ‘Cheik Anta Diop University (Master program). We support wildlife organisations and government conservation/ environment institutions

Identified our expertise in various veterinary interventions for gorilla health in Africa

Gorilla health monitoring

Gorilla health monitoring

We monitor the health of the mountain gorilla regularly and expect to visit at least 4 gorilla groups per week. And at least 3 times per group for a close visual checkup for an ill individual or a patient who needs more attention. OHAC- Gorilla Health trained trackers on the tool (Ranger-based monitoring and the veterinary routine health checks) and how to report as soon as they observed an abnormality. Gorilla veterinarians consider a field visit for more in-depth visual health after the tracker report in case any abnormality is identified. Early recognition of possible problems: Rapid response: Identify & contain if disease outbreaks quickly: Establish normal values: Analyze population health over time and Know the animals! Looking for symptoms including low appetite, lethargy, wounds, difficulty to breath and other complications. Ensure all parameters are normal: General appearance. Body condition, activity, respiration skin, discharge on the head and faeces (Stool). When the health condition is considered life-threatening, gorilla vets provide appropriate treatments with the support of the park management and partners
Gorilla diseases

Gorilla diseases

The main threat for the mountain gorilla health are infectious diseases ranging from respiratory illnesses to intestinal parasitic infections as we identified for the last decade. This lead to my research on respiratory illness even we identified as well other health issues like the trauma, infanticide, abscess, dental illness , skin lessons,.. Humans and gorillas share approximately 98 percent of their DNA. This close genetic relatedness has led to concerns that gorillas may be susceptible to many of the infectious diseases that affect people. Human-to-gorilla transmission may explain human metapneumovirus in 2 wild mountain gorillas that died during a respiratory disease outbreak in Rwanda in 2009. We report conclusive evidence for the association of a human virus with death in mountain gorillas. Mountain gorilla range come often in contact with the communities and they are susceptible to different diseases from human transmission. We identify different human virus affecting mountain gorilla confirming cross- contamination diseases between human and mountain gorilla with led to different publications (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jean-Felix-Kinani-Sangwa)
Gorilla intervention

Gorilla intervention

Generally, after assessing visually the health of a mountain gorilla, we can dart the gorilla with a medicine or do a full intervention with an anesthetize drug. During the full intervention, we conduct the physical examination and medical assessment, administering medicine (antibiotic and anti-inflammatories) when necessary and collecting samples for further disease investigation. We use Ketamine and Medetomidine as an anesthetic drug after having good results through our research. This exercise is stressful for both gorillas and trackers who support the gorilla veterinary intervention. Veterinarians intervene if life-threatening and conservation value, including human induced diseases and injuries. Gorilla intervention allows us to get samples and other information needed to study and protect the lives of the wild mountain gorillas Interventions on mountain or lowland gorillas take place in the wild, as we do not remove gorillas from their natural habitat. The One Health Approach for Conservation (OHAC) - Gorilla Health train Gorilla Doctors trackers for better management of the situation and we took responsibility for all the processes.
Captive gorilla care

Captive gorilla care

As soon as we received an orphan’s gorilla, generally emotionally traumatized, we conducted a rapid examination to determine the extent of injuries/ illness. We perform physical exams and provide a treatment for any illness and injury. We managed the Kinigi quarantine facilities in Rwanda, where we succeeded to take care of the first mountain gorilla (Maisha) out of the park due to illegal activities /impact of poaching in DRC. We support other sanctuaries: DRC (Graces sanctuary, and Rumangabo/ Senkwekwe Center). We trained human caretakers who spend 24 hours/day with the orphans to recover from their mental trauma.
Gorilla interaction and injuries - Trauma

Gorilla interaction and injuries - Trauma

Regular interaction among gorilla lead to several injuries. Injuries can be caused also by snares (human- induced). Trauma due to this injury came as the second cause of death on wild gorilla. But due to the rapid intervention of veterinarian with the information provided by our trackers, gorilla are treated or released from snare. Wounds heal rapidly. Aggression among silverbacks lead to several injury, unfortunately young or baby caught in the fight can loss they live. We noticed less snare in the Rwanda's VNP and less mountain gorilla caught on snare. Gorilla monitoring is not possible in the DRC's VNP due the insecurity.
Gorilla necropsy

Gorilla necropsy

When a gorilla is found dead, veterinarians perform a necropsy. (Post mortem examination). It help us for disease investigation. Samples are collected following the protocol, we established. Samples with other data information are send to laboratory partners. This lead to different publications with the OHAC- Gorilla Health support. The findings highlight the importance for long term monitoring. We taught as well student and gorilla doctors on the process and result are well appreciated. We supported the initiation of the mountain gorilla skeleton project where after the necropsy, we buried gorilla and get skeleton for research purpose.