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The doctor will see you now: The Gorilla vet teams who treat infants orphaned by poachers and combat disease to help numbers regrow
- Vet team operates in heart of Africa, treating ill gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda, and Democratic Republic of Congo
- Doctors treat infants orphaned by poachers and conduct surveillance to look for emerging pandemic threats
- They also provide health care and medicine to over 2,000 national park workers and their family members
By John Balson
Published: 01:18 GMT, 26 June 2014 | Updated: 01:18 GMT, 26 June 2014
When renowned American primatologist Dian Fossey was murdered in 1985 the mountain gorillas population was estimated to be as low as 250 animals in the wild.
Dr Fossey, who dedicated her life to saving the species, was found face-up on the floor of her cabin in the forest, having been bludgeoned with a machete.
As well as inspiring the Oscar-nominated movie Gorillas in the Mist, her life's work also gave rise to the Gorilla Doctors, who nearly 30 years later have contributed greatly to bringing the species back from the brink of extinction.
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Gorilla Doctors: The international team of veterinarians operates in the heart of Africa, treating maimed and critically ill gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo
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Beyond health care: The Gorilla Doctors treat infants orphaned by poachers and conduct wildlife disease surveillance to look for emerging pandemic threats
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Help: The veterinary team intervenes when the gentle giants are trapped in poacher's snares and exhibiting symptoms of potentially fatal human viruses
The most recent census revealed that today, there are 880 mountain gorillas ranging in central Africa.
The international team of veterinarians operates in the heart of Africa, treating maimed and critically ill gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Their work extends beyond wild gorilla health care: the Gorilla Doctors treat infants orphaned by poachers, conduct wildlife disease surveillance to look for emerging pandemic threats, and provide health care and medicine to over 2,000 national park workers and their family members.
The veterinary team intervenes when the gentle giants are trapped in poacher's snares, exhibiting symptoms of potentially fatal human viruses.and suffering from life-threatening trauma resulting from conflict amongst and between gorilla groups.
‘This is the most challenging job I have ever had, but also the most rewarding,’ said American Dr Jan Ramer, the Gorilla Doctors regional manager.
‘I visited Rwanda in 1985 when I was a primate keeper at the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago. I was lucky enough to meet Dian Fossey and saw mountain gorillas for the first time during that visit.
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Aid: The Gorilla Doctors' work continues to see the mountain gorilla population rise
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Happy: Gorilla Kalonge with her favourite carer Babo at the Senkwekwe Centre, Democratic Republic of Congo, in May 2014
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The great outdoors: Lowland gorillas relax in the forest in the wild in Kahuzi-Biega National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo
‘I fell in love and always dreamed of returning to Rwanda and working in gorilla conservation.’
‘Much of my job consists of reporting, accounting, and meeting with partners, government officials and donors but I still love it when I get to be a clinical veterinarian.’
'This is the most challenging job I have ever had, but also the most rewarding'
Dr Jan Ramer, Gorilla Doctors regional manager
Empowering local doctors is an important objective within the organisation.
Dr Ramer is the only expatriate veterinarian on the ground - the majority of the team is comprised of Rwandan, Ugandan, and Congolese veterinarians and all support staff are African.
The Gorilla Doctors' work continues to see the mountain gorilla population rise, while all other monitored populations of great apes around the world are steadily declining.
The last six years have seen the vets and scientists employ increasingly advanced techniques, which they hope will help all critically endangered species, not just gorillas.
Gorilla Doctors operates under a 'One Health' approach to conserving the species, which live in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda and the Virunga Massif, which straddles the borders of Rwanda, Uganda and DR Congo.
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Assistance: A team from the Gorilla Doctors transfer a gorilla named Ihirwe in a crate across a river in Kasuo, Democratic Republic of Congo
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Transfer: The Gorilla Doctors carry a crate holding Ihirwe the gorilla in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo
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Working hard: All other monitored populations of great apes around the world are steadily declining
'One Health' is a belief that the health of one species is inextricably linked to that of the entire ecosystem - including humans and other animal species.
This is important as disease can be spread by local people, who, earning an average of $1 (£0.59) a day, delve into the forest for resources such as water and firewood, as well as to hunt bushmeat.
The region, which is the most densely populated in Africa, is also a magnet for thousands of eco-tourists who trek to the habituated gorilla groups, eager to observe the wild apes in their natural habitat.
The Rwanda Development Board, which orchestrates the gorilla tourism program, requires tourists maintain a 23ft (7m) distance from the gorillas.
However, the gorillas are not aware of the rule and often approach much closer, making disease transmission a primary concern.
But there is two-way traffic around the national park and some of the mountain gorillas, which can weigh 30st, also wander out of the protected forest and into close proximity to local communities in search of eucalyptus and bamboo shoots.
The common cold could potentially kill the animals, who share 98.5 per cent of their genes with humans.
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On his back: A carer picks up a mountain gorilla called Ndakasi so that she can be accurately weighed at Senkwekwe Centre, DRC
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Important work: Doctor Jan Ramer, Dr Eddy Kambale and volunteer vet Dr Jessica Magenwirth treat a mountain gorilla called Ndakasi at the Senkwekwe Centre, DRC (left), while a young female gorilla named Kalonge sits next to a carer at an orphanage in the same centre
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Love: Another view of gorilla Kalonge with her favourite carer Babo at the Senkwekwe Centre, DRC
In fact, infectious disease, such as human-born respiratory illness, accounts for 20 per cent of mountain gorilla deaths in central Africa.
Gorilla Doctors immediately treat all gorillas exhibiting severe respiratory illness symptoms with medications to help the animal overcome the infection quickly.
The region the Gorilla Doctors operate in is also one of the most turbulent in the world and has been marred by genocide and war.
'We monitor their heath, intervene when a gorilla is sick and rescue orphans when they are confiscated by authorities from poachers or dealers'
Dr Eddy Kambale, Gorilla Doctors head veterinarian in DRC
At times, the team has been unable to monitor the gorillas' health, primarily in the DR Congo, where rebel factions have moved into the gorilla's habitat.
Most recently, the M23 rebel group occupied the Mikeno Sector of Virunga National Park for 18 months and were finally dispersed by the Congolese army and UN forces, allowing conservation workers to re-enter the park and check on the gorillas and other wildlife.
Their latest mission, to fly a young Grauer's gorilla orphan named Ihirwe to the Grace sanctuary in north-eastern DRC, was made possible by UN forces.
Gorilla Doctors has provided critical medical care to over 30 orphan gorillas since the organisation's inception.
The Senkwekwe Centre, located in Rumangabo, DRC, is home to four mountain gorilla orphans and one suspected Grauer's gorilla orphan.
The Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education (Grace) center is home to 14 Grauer's, or eastern lowland gorilla orphans.
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Tongue clip: A close up of gorilla Kalonge being assessed in the quarantine zone at Senkwekwe Centre, DRC
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Oral exam: Mountain gorilla Maisha lies under anaesthetic while Ndeze and Matabishi watch on at Senkwekwe (left). Maisha is also seen (right) with Dr Eddy Kambale
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Needing treatment: A close up of mountain gorilla Ndakasi having her teeth checked at the Senkwekwe Centre, DRC
The Grauer's gorilla is slightly larger and less hariy than the mountain gorilla subspecies.
Dr Eddy Kambale, the Gorilla Doctors head veterinarian in DR Congo, has been directly involved in the care of 24 orphans rescued from poachers.
He said: ‘My work with the Gorilla Doctors consists of saving one gorilla's life at a time.
‘I usually spend about 20 days in the field at a time but this is determined by the gorillas' health, which can increase the number of days.
‘We monitor their heath, intervene when a gorilla is sick and rescue orphans when they are confiscated by authorities from poachers or dealers.’
The latest rescued orphan was a female gorilla - later named Kalonge - who was turned over to officials at Kahuzi Biega National Park after being caught in a poacher's snare.
New arrivals at the Senkwekwe Center, such as infant Kalonge, must be placed in quarantine for 30 days, to establish the health status of the animal and prevent transmission of diseases among orphans.
Once Kalonge arrived at the Senkwekwe Centre, she was immediately placed in the care of experienced caregivers Babo and Phillipe, both former Virunga National Park rangers.
‘These two men are very experienced in the care of orphan gorillas’ said Dr Ramer.
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Want something to eat? Dr Jan Ramer offers a banana to a gorilla named Ihirwe onboard a UN helicopter from Goma, DRC
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Medical assistance: Gorilla Kalonge being assessed in the quarantine zone at the Senkwekwe Centre
‘They know how to make gorilla appeasement vocalizations, gently hold the orphan when she is frightened and encourage her to eat - which is not a small task. They will remain with Kalonge 24/7, even sleeping beside her, to slowly gain her trust.’
As infants, it can be difficult to distinguish between the two subspecies of eastern gorilla.
The Gorilla Doctors take blood, fur and faeces samples, and ship them to the Max Planck Institute in Cologne, Germany, for DNA analysis before they can determine the orphan's long-term care facility.
Dr Ramer added: ‘If we confirm she is a Grauer's gorilla she will be taken to Grace to join the 14 other orphans there.
‘If, on the outside chance, she is found to be a mountain gorilla she will stay at Senkwekwe and join the four mountain gorillas, Maisha, Ndakasi, Ndeze, and Matabishi, who live there.
‘Either way, she will finally be back with her own kind, living in a forested enclosure and allowed to be a healthy and happy gorilla.’
The Gorilla Doctors were formed in 1986 as the Virunga Veterinary Center, later becoming the ‘Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project’.
Starting from the first Gorilla Doctor, Dr James Foster, the organisation now employs 14 veterinarians and operates in DR Congo, Rwanda and Uganda.
The Gorilla Doctors is powered by the non-profit Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project and the UC Davis Wildlife Health Center and is directed by Dr Mike Cranfield and Dr Kirsten Gilardi.