Mountain gorilla and chimpanzee trekking provides conservation revenue but requires strict welfare standards to prevent disease transmission and minimize behavioral disturbance to wild primates.
Primate trekking involves genuine welfare tradeoffs. Revenue from well-managed tourism funds anti-poaching and habitat protection, benefiting thousands of animals. But habituation exposes primates to disease, reduces natural ranging behavior, and may increase stress. Strict enforcement of distance rules, group size limits, and no-visit days for rest balances welfare against conservation benefit.