Mountain gorilla ecotourism has been central to the conservation success of this critically endangered species, but close-range habituation and tourism visits create welfare costs for individual gorillas that must be carefully managed.
Habituation and tourism visits alter gorilla behaviour and stress levels in ways that are difficult to fully quantify. The presence of humans — even familiar, habituated visitors — elevates glucocorticoid stress hormones in gorillas. Individual gorillas vary in their tolerance of human presence, and subordinate or young animals may be more affected. Disease transmission risk is a persistent welfare and conservation threat. The dependency of gorilla conservation on tourism revenue creates vulnerability during disruptions. The welfare costs of habituated status are partially offset by increased protection, but this balance requires ongoing active management.