NORTHERN PROVINCE

Musanze—Interactions with wildlife and undomesticated animals posing serious health risks to the native gorilla population in this area of northern Rwanda.

According to the Dr. Lucy Spelmen and all apes are susceptible to human diseases.

”In addition  to naturally occurring health problems, mountain gorillas suffer from human-induced injuries and illnesess associated with poaching,” she said.

Dr. J. Felix Kinani, who works specifically with gorillas, says that the exposure of the gorillas to humans increases the risk of human-to-animal transfers.

"Ironicallly, the very activities which protect the gorillas exposes them to danger of acquiring diseases such as cough, tuberclosis and wounds resulting from snares,” Dr. Kinani says.

The laying of snares in the park to catch other animals has always instead caught the gorillas, cutting off their toes or legs and sometimes inflicting more serious wounds, needing medical attention.

MGVP is one of few conservation programmes in the world providing health care to the endangered species. It operates offices in Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

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