Mountain and eastern lowland gorillas face escalating health threats from human disease transmission, habitat loss, and conflict, requiring integrated conservation medicine approaches.
Conservation medicine for wild gorillas sits at the intersection of individual animal welfare and population-level conservation goals. Veterinary interventions such as snare removal and treatment of wounds directly relieve suffering in individual animals while also protecting breeding adults critical to population viability. However, habituation to humans for tourism creates ongoing disease transmission risks that require strict health protocols including minimum approach distances and mandatory mask wearing. The ethical complexities of intervening in wild animal health involve balancing short-term welfare benefits against long-term risks of dependency and disrupted social structures. Integrated approaches that combine wildlife veterinary care with community engagement and habitat protection offer the strongest outcomes.