Mountain gorillas have recovered from the brink of extinction through intensive conservation work, but the welfare of both wild gorillas and those involved in habituation for tourism requires ongoing attention.
Mountain gorilla conservation is a genuine success story, but welfare risks accompany the tourism and habituation programs that fund it. Habituation to human presence for tourism exposes gorillas to respiratory disease pathogens for which they have limited immunity. Strict health protocols — including minimum distances, maximum group sizes, and exclusion of sick tourists — reduce but do not eliminate this risk. Conservation investment must include welfare protection as an integral component.