Gorilla Photos

Our PatientsOur Patients
For almost a quarter of a century, the Gorilla Doctors have been caring for sick and injured Mountain Gorillas.  And now they also provide similar monitoring and medical care for the Grauer's Gorillas.  Their work is critical to the survival of the species.  Although they do intervene in certain natural life-threatening situations, their primary focus is dealing with the health hazards the gorillas face due to the direct and indirect impact of people: those hazards include many diseases (often respiratory in nature) - gorillas share over 98% of our DNA - as well as injuries due to snares set in the forest by poachers trying to catch small antelope.
Doctors in Action

 Doctors in Action
Once an idea in the mind of the late Dian Fossey, the Mountain Gorillas Veterinary Project provides necessary medical care for this rare species inside its forested mountain home.  In the last decade, the project has grown into a team of eight veterinarians and support staff whose priority remains the health of the Mountain Gorilla, but who also understand that the key to saving a species is to promote the health of the other animals who share its ecosystem—including humans.  MGVP, Inc. was the first conservation group of its kind to adopt a “One-Health” approach and apply it to free-living population of endangered animals.

Other AnimalsOther Animals
Healthy ecosystems include a variety of animals.  There are several other amazing species that share the Mountain Gorilla’s home.  Unlike the gorillas, however, these creatures are not habituated to people.  Sometimes the Gorilla Doctors or their guests are lucky enough to photograph one of them.  As part of their “One-Health” approach, the vets are ready to treat any and all wildlife in need of medical care.
Outside the Park Outside the Park
The parts of Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo where the Mountain and Grauer’s Gorillas live are some of the most breathtakingly beautiful and biologically diverse areas in all of Africa.   Thousands of people live right up against the boundaries of these parks, even illegally inside them, struggling to survive by farming plants, cows, sheep, and goats, and sometimes entering the park for water, wood, or food.  There’s no buffer zone between people’s lives and those of the gorillas, only a low stonewall or line of trees.  "One Health" means taking care of not just what is in the park, but also what is outside it.
One Health in ActionOne Health in Action
The concept is simple and the best part about it is that it works!  The health and well being of the Gorilla—of any endangered species—is directly linked to the health of the people and animals, including other wildlife and livestock that surround the park.  It takes healthy people to save wildlife.  With this in mind, the staff of the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project help build capacity by teaching and training vets and park staff, and by running programs like rabies clinics, brucellosis screening studies, and employee health for park employees.  They also partner with other experts in human and farm health, conservation education, and health clinic rehabilitation.  The “One-Health” approach is a blueprint for success in the world of conservation.
Gorillas in Your MidstGorillas In Your Midst
Every year thousands of tourists return from a “journey of a lifetime” to see the Mountain Gorillas.  They find it hard to put the memory of their visit into words.  We feel a tremendous connection to these magnificent creatures.   We also know them.  These days, three quarters of the world’s Mountain Gorillas are habituated to people; each has a unique noseprint, like our fingerprint, and a name.  The larger and lesser-known Grauer’s Gorillas are more difficult to identify, but rangers are beginning to habituate more of them.  The future of both species is in our hands.
Today's PartnersToday's Partners
Our partners and friends include people from all walks of life committed to helping the Gorillas and their Doctors in any way they can.  They understand that the "One Health" works, providing hope for the future in a part of the world where wildlife conservation faces many challenges.  In order to continue and expand this unique program, we need your support.  Please consider becoming a Partner and Friend, and if you do join us, welcome to our family!