Should We Consider the Translocation of Gorilla Populations?

Considering the popularity of gorilla tourism, translocation should have been given serious thought long ago. By allowing tourists access only to captive-born animals reintroduced to natural habitats, any ill-effects tourism may have on the highly endangered gorilla populations can be avoided. As it is, it may be necessary to use translocation to save natural populations that have been jeopardized because of tourism.
Growth of human populations surrounding parks and overtaxing the natural buffer zones protecting endemic fauna and flora, increased water use (bathing drinking and voiding) within and around the park, and increased exposure of gorillas to humans from all over the world are all products of tourism which can have serious health consequences. The case of Gombe stream reserve where chimpanzees are now crippled by polio (a water born disease) and suffer yearly bouts of fatal epidemics illustrates the magnitude of this threat quite well.
Unfortunately, at the moment if we needed to translocate gorillas we have little of the information necessary to insure long term success. We need to know more about the qualities of the gorilla's environment and of the plants and animals that maintain it. Gorillas may not presently be using all of the environments that may be suitable to them. We must do research that allows us to predict based on what the animal's needs are, what environments will support them. In this regard, we must also further research differences between gorilla populations, and their corresponding needs.
What we know of the social system of eastern gorillas suggest that it may be best to move them into uninhabited areas as a group together with a single young solitary male. Into areas already populated by gorillas, it would be best to introduce young adult females. There are a number of drugs, with antidotes administered through a dart gun which can subdue animals for transport. These are relatively safe, if the animal's body-functions are monitored.
Unfortunately, the money, and subsequent political bureaucracy that gorilla conservation attracts worldwide seriously challenges coordination and effective decision making on the part of "true experts". Presently such coordination may be the greatest obstacle when survival of some gorilla groups may ultimately depend on translocation.

Esteban Sarmiento

Dr. Esteban Sarmiento is a functional anatomist in the American Museum of Natural History. His primary research interest involves the skeletons of hominoids. He has taught in the USA, South Africa and Uganda.

Juichi Yamagiwa

David Chivers

John E. Cooper

Kelly Stewart and Sandy Harcourt

Translocation overview

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