How would you react if you had a 20-stone male eyeballing you while his Mrs and children clambered all over you?
Most people would probably need a fresh pair of undies as my friend BQ pointed out to me.
baby Mountain gorilla
Well one tourist probably did what most people would do and sat as still as possible without making eye contact. Yes it must have been an incredible experience, but primatologists fear there are hidden dangers for the apes themselves being so close to man.
In December 2011 a family of Mountain gorillas entered the tourist camp in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda and decided to check out the human population.
It’s very rare that this has happened. To be this close to them would be an amazing experience, but because mountain gorillas have not been exposed to pathogens that we (humans) may have become immune to, one man’s joy could have put this family at risk.
There are very strict guidelines about viewing great apes in the wild. The reason is to make sure they don’t catch the germs we are carrying. It’s not always possible. Researchers have found evidence that some great apes species have died from human respiratory viruses which are likely to have infected them from people entering their habitat.
This meeting of man and ape just goes to show how habituated these gentle giants have become to us; not a good thing when poachers are also still operating in their habitat.
The Mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei ) have always been a source of fascination and a species I would dearly love to see in the wild one day (at a safe distance!!).
They are listed as critically endangered and although their numbers are increasing there are still only about 700 of them left.
They live within four national parks in Africa, split in two regions that are 45 kilometers (28 miles) apart. One population inhabits the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda; the second population of mountain gorillas is found in a mountainous region referred to as the Virungas, which includes Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (Uganda), Volcanoes National Park (Rwanda) and Virunga National Park (Democratic Republic of Congo).
whogivesamonkeys 
lee glen
January 31, 2012
Amazing footage everything should be done to protect these Gorillas
urbanprimate
January 31, 2012
They are, on the whole deemed by each of the African countries as a national treasure, so ranger patrols in all of the parks have become more robust. But yes it would be a terrible shame if they died out. Fossey would turn in her grave!
x
joan wilson manchester
January 31, 2012
hi Asha, saw this clip from dian fossey mountain gorrilas newsletter, awesome or what. I wish i was there comes to mind.
janjop22
January 31, 2012
Amazing video. I would of felt I died and went to heaven! What an experience that had to be.
I’ll take that over winning the lottery!
By the by Asha, Fossey in her last years used to trekk around with an oxygen tank, she was in
poor health. But she found a way.
I do want to add, since my lung surgery, I am pretty much normal. Its just humidity and elevation
that gives a problem. In case anyone out there may be facing this diagnosis, I am here to say
you can beat it!
Thank you again for this fantastic video!
Tim Brunt
January 31, 2012
Haha, the opening line reminds me of the typical goings on at my local nightclub… great piece hope you get to meet your gorilla face to face one day!
Tim x
Vernon Reynolds
February 1, 2012
Dear Asha
The danger of disease transmission from humans to gorillas is so great that this could have been a disaster, I hope it was not.
We have a 7m rule and I believe that’s the case at Bwindi too.
The man concerned should have quietly got up and walked away. I guess tourists aren’t trained to do this.
Let’s hope it’s a one off and won’t happen again.
Vernon
urbanprimate
February 1, 2012
Dear Vernon,
You’re absolutely right. This one-off encounter should by no means encourage others to seek the same attention. The 7-metre rule for all primates should be adhered to, our close proximity to them in their habitat is a double edge sword. I assume the tourist wasn’t expecting the animals to stay or be in physical contact with him; or perhaps he was just too frightened to move in case the silver back saw him as a threat.
Best
A