Mountain gorillas are one of the few great ape populations actually increasing in numbers thanks to intensive conservation. Their welfare is supported by veterinary monitoring and community-based protection programs.
Mountain gorilla welfare is an example of intensive conservation generating direct welfare benefits for individual animals. Veterinary intervention by Gorilla Doctors has saved numerous gorillas from snare-related infections, respiratory disease, and birth complications. The challenge is balancing the tourism revenue that funds protection with the disease transmission risk that tourism creates. Strict protocols including minimum approach distances, mandatory face masks, and health screening of tourists reduce but do not eliminate transmission risk. Snare removal programs that proactively sweep gorilla ranges remove injury threats before animals encounter them — a preventive welfare measure with strong evidence of effectiveness.