Gorilla Tourism — Good for the Great Apes or Animal Cruelty?
Some say that gorilla tourism in Africa is one of the most successful conservation stories in the world. Others, even some of my friends, maintain that it’s not fair to the animals to have their natural habitat invaded. It would make sense to think that the presence of humans in the animals’ natural habitat could affect their happiness, health, ecology, and overall well-being. I decided to Google the matter before offering a personal opinion and quickly found that there’s a lot more to it than merely deciding if gorilla tourism is wrong or right. A lot of it has to do with the history and political/environmental conditions of the countries that the gorillas call home.
How Did Gorilla Tourism Begin?
Even though the mountain gorilla doesn’t have many natural predators, it has managed to become an endangered species. The late 1970s saw a great population boom around the world and that was accompanied by the necessity to produce more food. More and more land had to be cleared for cattle grazing, and with that, the natural habitat of gorillas started shrinking. Decades of civil war further threatened these beautiful animals until they were eventually declared critically endangered. While the countries where they are located — Uganda, Rwanda, and the DRC — now are more peaceful, the gorillas are still under threat by poachers who kill them or capture them for sale as pets, private zoo animals, or even as research subjects. Sadly, these countries are still recovering from war and do not have the financial resources to take action to help the gorillas. So, they opened up their borders to gorilla tourism.
The True Effect of Gorilla Tourism
From what I’ve seen, tourism has had a mixed effect on the lives of the mountain gorillas. A research paper I came across revealed that the presence of tourists has caused the gorillas’ stress levels to rise. They have been spending less time eating and more time resting. Most research papers I came across have recommended long-term monitoring of the impact of human visits on gorillas. Unfortunately, this is impossible without funding, which is mainly generated by tourism. It’s quite a catch-22 situation! Some say that the negative impacts have more or less been outweighed by the positive, such as conservation and improved monitoring. Yet so much of both has been made possible by the profits from tourism.
Can Profitability and Sustainability Co-exist?
If you are looking at the issue with an eye towards sustainability, there are other drawbacks to travelling to Africa to see gorillas. Depending on where you come from, you’d likely be travelling by plane, which means an increase in your carbon footprint. Many environmentally conscious people steer clear of flying too far, while others believe in maintaining some kind of balance and trying to offset their carbon footprint where they can. Because every visit to the mountain gorillas involves a contribution to their conservation, this could be an ideal trip for those who have wanderlust but are also conscious of the impact their leisure activities have on the environment. Just bear in mind, you will be making a substantial contribution if you choose to visit the mountain gorillas.
How Much Does Gorilla Tourism Cost?
In addition to travel and accommodation costs, you need a permit to visit the gorillas which can range from some $600 to $1,500. Is it worth the money? Absolutely. You are not only experiencing something magical, unforgettable and even life-changing for some. Your money will in the end also go to an excellent cause — helping to keep these magnificent animals in existence. Because of the expensive permits, visitors are limited, thus keeping the small and fragile gorilla population just that tiny bit safer. Revenue from gorilla tourism also helps local communities by providing jobs for people employed as park rangers, trackers, porters, and guides. Locals also make money from tourists paying for somewhere to stay, food to eat, and souvenirs to take home. That alone makes it worth the price you’d pay, not to mention the actual encounter with a majestic mountain gorilla.
Up Close and Personal with the Gentle Giants
I don’t think that anything can quite prepare you for the moment you finally come face to face with a mountain gorilla (or a few of them!) I would imagine the sense of kinship is overwhelming and precious. I’d imagine your rational mind telling you these are dangerous animals. After all, they have fangs, they’re powerful beyond belief, they could theoretically kill you. But another part of you would see fellow sentient beings, with feelings and families, just like us. Gorillas share over 98% of their DNA with humans, and each has its own unique nose print like we have fingerprints. Giving a gorilla a hug is definitely not a good idea, but it’s rarely necessary to run away from them. Even though these animals can be over 1.8 meters tall and can weigh more than 200 kilos, they’re not aggressive towards humans. Mountain gorillas truly are gentle giants.
So, Should You, or Shouldn’t You?
Personally, I would never recommend attending a circus or visiting a zoo, but I’m not 100% sure how I feel about gorilla tourism. They aren’t really comparable. First of all, it was started as a way to conserve the gorillas whereby circuses and zoos were created purely for profit and entertainment. Unlike the lions and elephants performing tricks, or the giraffes and tigers being kept in confined spaces, mountain gorillas live in their natural habitat. It’s sad that they need tourism for conservation, but at least there are organizations looking after their well-being while they receive visitors. If you ever decide to go, and it’s not something you’ve saved up for, you can probably afford to donate a bit extra to the cause. And also, please stick to these rules:
- Don’t go if you’re ill. Gorillas are similar enough to us to be vulnerable to human disease.
• If you do need to cough or sneeze when you’re near them, turn away and cover your face.
• Do not use flash photography and don’t eat near them.
• Keep your voice and body low and submissive. After all, you’re in their space, uninvited.
• Wash your hands before you go, but don’t touch them. Keep at least 7 metres away at all times.
• Respect that you’re in their world and be grateful for the opportunity to experience it and that you could help them in some way by doing so.
