Bwindi gorillas get clinic
Nov 08, 2005
<br>GORILLAS in Bwindi Impenetrable National Parks in South-western Uganda will have better medical attention after the establishment of a laboratory for monitoring their health.
By Gerald Tenywa
GORILLAS in Bwindi Impenetrable National Parks in South-western Uganda will have better medical attention after the establishment of a laboratory for monitoring their health.
Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, Executive Director Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH), a non-governmental organisation, said a laboratory for undertaking tests on endangered mountain gorillas had been put in place in Buhoma village at the fringes of the park.
She said CTPH and its partners, which include the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), had contributed to the building of the laboratory early this year.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service, Cornel Universities in the US and Bayer Pharmaceuticals also assisted in the setting up of the laboratory, which is also referred to as the Field Clinic for Mountain Gorillas and other animal species.
“We monitor the gorilla health by analysing samples regularly instead of reacting to emergencies when the disease breaks out,’’ Kalema-Zikusoka said.
She said UWA officials collect the dung of gorillas once a week, which researchers examine and then advise UWA on proper measures to prevent disease outbreaks.
“It is an early warning system to prevent disease transmission between people, livestock and wildlife,’’ said Kalema-Zikusoka.
UWA cleared CTPH and its partners to construct an animal clinic outside the park because it would subsequently assist locals to treat other animals including domestic animals. UWA also contributes manpower needed to collect the gorilla dung and urine that are later used in the analysis. Kalema-Zikusoka said they were working with health partners to monitor disease outbreaks within the community such as diarrhoea and dysentery because some of the gorillas also stray into the villages within the vicinity of the park.
Bwindi harbours more than half of the global population of mountain gorillas, which are estimated at 750, and the remaining population roam the three countries - Uganda (Mgahinga), Rwanda and DRCongo.
Gorillas are the hottest tourist attraction in Uganda and contribute much of UWA’s revenue from protected areas, part of which is used to run other parks that are not popular tourist destinations.
CTPH, created about three years ago, has formed partnerships with the government, educational networks, NGOs, foundations and private corporations worldwide.
GORILLAS in Bwindi Impenetrable National Parks in South-western Uganda will have better medical attention after the establishment of a laboratory for monitoring their health.
Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, Executive Director Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH), a non-governmental organisation, said a laboratory for undertaking tests on endangered mountain gorillas had been put in place in Buhoma village at the fringes of the park.
She said CTPH and its partners, which include the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), had contributed to the building of the laboratory early this year.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service, Cornel Universities in the US and Bayer Pharmaceuticals also assisted in the setting up of the laboratory, which is also referred to as the Field Clinic for Mountain Gorillas and other animal species.
“We monitor the gorilla health by analysing samples regularly instead of reacting to emergencies when the disease breaks out,’’ Kalema-Zikusoka said.
She said UWA officials collect the dung of gorillas once a week, which researchers examine and then advise UWA on proper measures to prevent disease outbreaks.
“It is an early warning system to prevent disease transmission between people, livestock and wildlife,’’ said Kalema-Zikusoka.
UWA cleared CTPH and its partners to construct an animal clinic outside the park because it would subsequently assist locals to treat other animals including domestic animals. UWA also contributes manpower needed to collect the gorilla dung and urine that are later used in the analysis. Kalema-Zikusoka said they were working with health partners to monitor disease outbreaks within the community such as diarrhoea and dysentery because some of the gorillas also stray into the villages within the vicinity of the park.
Bwindi harbours more than half of the global population of mountain gorillas, which are estimated at 750, and the remaining population roam the three countries - Uganda (Mgahinga), Rwanda and DRCongo.
Gorillas are the hottest tourist attraction in Uganda and contribute much of UWA’s revenue from protected areas, part of which is used to run other parks that are not popular tourist destinations.
CTPH, created about three years ago, has formed partnerships with the government, educational networks, NGOs, foundations and private corporations worldwide.