Do Gorillas Fall Sick? What Illnesses Do Gorillas Suffer From?

10 Days Primate Safari in Rwanda and Uganda

Yes, gorillas are very prone to sicknesses especially those which affect humans. The susceptibility of disease transfer between gorillas and humans is greater on the side of the gorillas; they can quickly catch human diseases and therefore need to be protected.

This is why in Uganda, the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) maintains that no tourist is allowed to embark on a gorilla tracking safari if they have a communicable disease, and even the healthy trekkers are not allowed to get too close to the animals.

The kind of environment in which the mountain gorillas live (which is cold and wet) many a time exposes them to respiratory illnesses especially pneumonia. Colds and coughs and even Ebola may be transferred from tourists to the animals or sometimes they may be transferred from gorillas to humans.Gorillas also suffer from intestinal parasites like worms and protozoans which are also similar to those that affect the human digestive system. Gorillas also suffer from dental illnesses; though rarely because they don’t consume a lot of sugary substances. The older gorillas (above 35 years) begin to lose some of their teeth to Periodontitis and also start to feel weakness in their limbs as a result of arthritis.

Gorillas sometimes suffer from wounds which may be caused by attacks from predators like leopards, other mountain gorilla groups or if they fall into traps set by poachers. Some of the traps contain rusted materials and if the gorilla falls in the snare it might not only be injured but also infected with some unknown contagions.

Even if it manages to free itself from the trap, chances of survival are limited.