Africa's Mountain Gorillas Also at Risk From Coronavirus
2020-03-30
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1As the coronavirus continues to spread among humans around the world, conservationists are warning of its possible risk to another group: Africa's endangered mountain gorillas.
2Congo's Virunga National Park is home to about 30 percent of the world's mountain gorillas.
3The park is barring visitors until June 1 because scientists believe the gorillas may be able to catch the new coronavirus.
4Neighboring Rwanda also is shutting downvisitorand research activities in three national parks that are home to gorillas and chimpanzees.
5Mountain gorillas can contract some respiratory diseases that humans contract.
6A simple cold can kill a gorilla, says the Worldwide Fund for Nature.
7That is why park visitors are not supposed to get too close to gorillas.
8Rules call for a 7-meter distance between gorillas and humans.
9About 1,000 mountain gorillas live in protected areas in Congo, Uganda and Rwanda.
10Permitting the public to visit these areas is important and profitable.
11However, COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, led Virunga park officials to order the temporary ban.
12Conservationists have welcomed the decision.
13Paula Kahumbu leads the Kenya-based conservation group WildlifeDirect.
14She says that "every possible effort must be made" to protect mountain gorillas because so few are left in the wild.
15"We know that gorillas are very sensitive to human diseases," Kahumbu said.
16"If anyone has a cold or a flu they are not allowed to go and see the gorillas."
17But, she said people can spread the virus before they show any signs of infection.
18So, visitors could "put those gorillas at risk."
19Even under normal conditions, park measures to protect the gorillas from tourists may not be enough.
20Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka is the founder and leader of the Uganda-based Conservation Through Public Health.
21She noted a study done this year by her organization and Ohio University.
22It looked at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
23She said the research showed that the rule separating gorillas and tourists was ineffective.
24Kalema-Zikusoka said the study showed that the seven-meter rule was violated almost every time a group of visitors entered the park.
25She said visitors were to blame about sixty percent of the time.
26In the other cases, it was the gorillas that moved too close to the humans.
27Uganda has not announced a shutdown of gorilla park tourism.
28However, the number of visitors from Europe and other places has sharply decreased.
29The mountain gorilla population shrank severely in the past 100 years because of disease and hunting, which is illegal.
30Mountain gorillas have been listed as endangered since 1996.
31But, their population is now growing.
32Tourism brings much foreign money into Rwanda and Uganda.
33Tourism earnings are important in efforts to protect mountain gorillas.
34Officials can use it to help local communities or invest in anti-hunting operations.
35A gorilla tracking permit costs up to $600 in Uganda.
36 similar permit costs more than $1,000 in Rwanda.
37Some observers worry a decrease in tourism during the coronavirus crisis could endanger gorillas.
38Hunters might become more active if they think the crisis has weakened security.
39I'm Ashley Thompson.
1As the coronavirus continues to spread among humans around the world, conservationists are warning of its possible risk to another group: Africa's endangered mountain gorillas. 2Congo's Virunga National Park is home to about 30 percent of the world's mountain gorillas. The park is barring visitors until June 1 because scientists believe the gorillas may be able to catch the new coronavirus. 3Neighboring Rwanda also is shutting downvisitorand research activities in three national parks that are home to gorillas and chimpanzees. 4Mountain gorillas can contract some respiratory diseases that humans contract. A simple cold can kill a gorilla, says the Worldwide Fund for Nature. That is why park visitors are not supposed to get too close to gorillas. Rules call for a 7-meter distance between gorillas and humans. 5About 1,000 mountain gorillas live in protected areas in Congo, Uganda and Rwanda. Permitting the public to visit these areas is important and profitable. However, COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, led Virunga park officials to order the temporary ban. 6Conservationists have welcomed the decision. 7Paula Kahumbu leads the Kenya-based conservation group WildlifeDirect. She says that "every possible effort must be made" to protect mountain gorillas because so few are left in the wild. 8"We know that gorillas are very sensitive to human diseases," Kahumbu said. "If anyone has a cold or a flu they are not allowed to go and see the gorillas." But, she said people can spread the virus before they show any signs of infection. So, visitors could "put those gorillas at risk." 9Even under normal conditions, park measures to protect the gorillas from tourists may not be enough. 10Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka is the founder and leader of the Uganda-based Conservation Through Public Health. She noted a study done this year by her organization and Ohio University. It looked at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. She said the research showed that the rule separating gorillas and tourists was ineffective. 11Kalema-Zikusoka said the study showed that the seven-meter rule was violated almost every time a group of visitors entered the park. She said visitors were to blame about sixty percent of the time. In the other cases, it was the gorillas that moved too close to the humans. 12Uganda has not announced a shutdown of gorilla park tourism. However, the number of visitors from Europe and other places has sharply decreased. 13The mountain gorilla population shrank severely in the past 100 years because of disease and hunting, which is illegal. Mountain gorillas have been listed as endangered since 1996. But, their population is now growing. 14Tourism brings much foreign money into Rwanda and Uganda. Tourism earnings are important in efforts to protect mountain gorillas. Officials can use it to help local communities or invest in anti-hunting operations. A gorilla tracking permit costs up to $600 in Uganda. A similar permit costs more than $1,000 in Rwanda. 15Some observers worry a decrease in tourism during the coronavirus crisis could endanger gorillas. Hunters might become more active if they think the crisis has weakened security. 16I'm Ashley Thompson. 17The Reuters News Agency reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. 18________________________________________________________________ 19Words in This Story 20respiratory - adj. having to do with breathing 21allow - v. to permit 22tourist - n. one who visits a place for pleasure 23tracking - adj. to follow or watch closely