5.
Most recently, a disease called Ebola fever has joined forces with hunters and loggers to further threaten the existence of gorillas. Biologists suspect that the virus was first spread across species with the help of tropical insects. Whatever its origins, we do know that the virus is now carried from gorillas to humans in a deadly cycle. Hunters contract the headache and fever when they kill and eat infected bush meat. As the disease runs its course, internal bleeding leads to death. Meanwhile, an unsuspecting hunter who seems only a bit “under the weather” may return to the bush, effectively sickening an entire troop of gorillas. Ninety percent of all gorillas that get Ebola fever die. Healthy gorillas that come into contact with diseased bodies in the bush get the disease as well. Scientists are currently researching treatments for Ebola. Since human and gorilla DNA are so similar, it is possible that a vaccine for humans will eventually help gorillas as well. Meanwhile, Ebola continues to thrive.
People once thought that gorillas were fierce, threatening animals. Today, scientists know that gorillas live peacefully in family groups. Their only enemies in the bush are people. Watch these “gentle giants of the jungle” now, while you can. Unless we work together to make sure that gorillas survive, they may disappear forever.