Should We Consider the Translocation of Gorilla Populations?

As a conservation strategy, the translocation of wild animals is usually a last resort because of the tremendous problems involved. Translocation of wild gorillas from one forest region to another would be logistically difficult, massively expensive, and could easily go wrong. The dangers include:

1. trauma to the animals who are captured and moved, with the death of some of the gorillas being likely,
2. the possible introduction of pathogens to the new area,
3. failure of the re-introduced animals to adapt to the new environs,
4. cross-breeding of potentially separate sub-species.

Furthermore, without careful and extensive public awareness campaigns, a translocation project could send the wrong message to local communities, seriously undermining the credibility of the conservation message and of conservation personnel.
Translocation has potential benefits, such as preventing deleterious inbreeding by introducing "new blood", or saving the lives of gorillas who are doomed to slaughter if they remain where they are. What is good for a handful of individuals, however, is not necessarily good for the species as a whole. We do not feel that the potential benefits would outweigh the risks of translocation in most cases, especially if this expensive endeavor draws money and resources away from other conservation efforts in regions with viable gorilla populations.

Kelly Stewart and Sandy Harcourt

Dr. Kelly Stewart and Prof. Alexander Harcourt studied gorillas in Karisoke for many years. They were among the first students of Dian Fossey.

Esteban Sarmiento

Juichi Yamagiwa

David Chivers

John E. Cooper

Translocation overview

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