Due to the very close genetic relationship between humans and gorillas, the gorillas are very vulnerable to many of man’s infectious diseases that affect people – though human being have invented immunity managing for even the smallest of sniffles can have tragic consequences if exposed to the gorillas.
The International Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP) and Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network (WFEN) have worked together to develop the new tool – known as Gorilla Friendly Pledge – that outlines ten simple things tourists can do before, during and after their gorilla safari, which rules are set to protect visitors and mountain gorillas alike.
The launch of Gorilla Friendly Pledge coincides with peak gorilla trekking tourist season and Kwita Izina, the annual baby gorilla naming ceremony taking place in Rwanda on 1 July. By publishing the gorilla safaris guidelines, Gorilla Friendly Pledge will help safeguard gorillas by minimizing the risk of disease transmission and preventing illness or behavioral change of the gorillas as a result of exposure to people.
“Conscientious mountain gorilla tourism has contributed to one of the world’s true conservation success stories. By demonstrating that gorillas and their forest habitat can provide real and lasting benefits to people and economies, local communities have become their guardians,” states Anna Behm Masozera, Director of the International Gorilla Conservation Programme, a coalition between Fauna & Flora International (FFI) and WWF.
“But we cannot be complacent and now is the time to better equip tourists with the tools to become gorilla guardians as well. This Pledge aims to empower tourists visiting any of the gorilla subspecies in the forests across Africa with information as to the regulations in place for gorilla tourism to make these often once-in-a-lifetime experiences even more valuable – to their experience and to the gorillas.”
The content of the Pledge originates from existing guidelines and regulations defined by the leading experts on great gorillas and outlined in the IUCN’s Best Practice Guidelines for Great Ape Tourism.