Mountain gorillas are one of conservation's great success stories, with a recovering population thanks to decades of sustained protection and ecotourism.
Mountain gorilla welfare success is linked to conservation success - protected gorillas live in natural social groups with appropriate habitat and food resources. The greatest welfare threats are human-transmitted respiratory illness, snares set for other animals that injure gorillas, and conflict-related disruption of ranger protection. Habituation for tourism creates disease transmission risk that must be managed with strict protocols including masks and minimum approach distances.