Mountain gorilla tourism as a conservation tool

Mountain gorilla tourism has been credited with saving the critically endangered mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) from potential extinction by shifting local attitudes and incentivizing conservation efforts. Launched in 1979 as part of the International Gorilla Conservation Program, this approach converted poachers into rangers and demonstrated that living gorillas held greater value than their body parts. However, recent research highlights both short- and long-term consequences of gorilla tourism, challenging its effectiveness as a sole conservation tool. The study examines the historical decline of the species—from an estimated 400–500 individuals in 1960 to just 252–285 by 1978—and evaluates the trade-offs between economic benefits and ecological risks, including habitat disruption and human-wildlife conflict. While tourism has achieved notable success in protecting gorilla populations within Virunga National Park, its sustainability remains a subject of ongoing debate.

Goldsmith, M. L. (2014). Mountain gorilla tourism as a conservation tool. Primate Tourism, 177–198. https://doi.org/10.1017/cbo9781139087407.013