Gorilla Tourism - pros and cons

The high prices the tourists have to pay to visit the gorillas tempt some people to accept bribes. Many people make a profit in this business and there is the risk that for them their profit is more important than the protection of the gorillas. Only very strict control at a state level can stop some individuals from disregarding the rules.
With additional tips, some guides can be talked into approaching closer to the gorillas than is permitted by the regulations. This dramatically increases the risk of disease transmission. Visitors have to adhere to the rules, too: some of them will pay astonishing amounts of money to be taken to the gorillas illegally. Every single tourist has to be aware that his or her behaviour determines whether tourism is useful or harmful for the gorillas.
Another risk has become evident over the last few years: gorillas habituated to people can be tracked down and killed by poachers much more easily. Therefore it is often the habituated groups that are killed first.

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