Meet Gorilla Doctors Rwanda that are dedicated to conserving the Mountain Gorillas through life-saving veterinary medicine and a One Health approach. The international team of veterinarians is the only group providing these critically endangered animals with direct, hands-on care in the wild. The Gorilla Doctors are such very important to the well-being of the mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park.
Uganda, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp
With a special USAID Emerging Pandemic Threats program PREDICT grant, Gorilla Doctors in Rwanda are at the forefront of a global campaign to identify the emergence of new infectious diseases in wildlife that could pose a major threat to human health. Gorilla Doctors in Rwanda and Uganda are leading the field work for this important effort, safely and humanely collecting samples such as blood, saliva and feces from rodents, primates, bats, and birds in places where these species come into close contact with people.
The Gorilla Doctors Rwanda’s talk will include the following;
- The interesting history and habitation of the Mountain Gorillas in the Volcanoes National Park, Virunga and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- How deliberate measures in conservation has led to the constant growth of the Gorilla population.
- Procedures taken in monitoring the Gentle giants through safe sample collection and direct treatment and census taken by the Gorilla Doctors.
- Behaviors and mannerisms of the Gorillas and how tourists are to behave while viewing them.
- The talk usually lasts one hour with follow up questions from the audience. It is a great way to prepare for the Gorilla trekking tour the next day.
The Gorilla Doctor lecture is done at a donation fee. This is paid to compliment conservation effort of the mountain gorillas in Rwanda. Usually the fee is US$ 500.00 for a 1 hour Gorilla talk as it gives guests an insight on the life of the gentle giants. This Gorilla lecture is much recommended on the day before your gorilla trek.
In Uganda, you get to know about the mountain gorillas on your gorilla trekking day that starts very early in the morning with breakfast at your lodge/camp. Thereafter transferred to the Gorilla trekking briefing point where officials from Uganda Wildlife Authority checks and validates your Gorilla trekking permits for the day.