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A28 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 24 March 2020
Africa's mountain gorillas also at risk from coronavirus

By RODNEY MUHUMUZA ness amid the outbreak. their numbers are now said
Associated Press Still, he said, the few tourists to be growing as a result of
KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) who come are screened conservation efforts. But
— As the coronavirus in- for fever and other symp- there have been painful
fects more people around toms and must obey rules losses. Some gorillas die of
the world, conservationists such as not standing within natural causes, falling from
are warning of the risk to 7 meters (21 feet) of a go- trees or being killed in fights
another vulnerable spe- rilla family. Visitors from vi- between males for territory
cies: Africa's endangered rus-affected countries who or dominance.
mountain gorilla. have gone through quar- A lightning strike killed four
Congo's Virunga National antine in Uganda need to mountain gorillas in Febru-
Park, home to about a third produce what he called a ary.
of the world's mountain go- certificate of isolation be- In Rwanda, where tour-
rillas, is barring visitors until fore they are permitted to ism is the top foreign ex-
June 1, citing "advice from track the gorillas. change earner, the gov-
scientific experts indicat- In this photo taken Dec. 11 2012, a park ranger wearing a mask Amos Wekesa, whose ernment has prioritized the
ing that primates, including walks past a mountain gorilla in the Virunga National Park in Great Lakes Safaris organiz- protection of gorillas, even
mountain gorillas, are likely eastern Congo. es gorilla tours in Rwanda launching a naming cer-
susceptible to complica- Associated Press and Uganda, spoke mourn- emony for baby primates.
tions arising from the CO- has a cold or a flu they are Uganda has not an- fully of "hardly any business" Tourism revenue is key in
VID-19 virus." not allowed to go and see nounced a shutdown of as tourists postpone visits or protecting mountain goril-
Neighboring Rwanda also the gorillas. With coronavi- gorilla tourism, although seek refunds. las as authorities can use
is temporarily shutting rus having such a long time tourist traffic from Europe The region's mountain go- some of the money to help
down tourism and research of no symptoms in some and elsewhere has dwin- rilla population dropped local communities or invest
activities in three national cases, it means that we dled. sharply in the past century in anti-poaching activities.
parks that are home to pri- could actually put those A spokesman for the Ugan- because of poaching, ill- A gorilla tracking permit
mates such as gorillas and gorillas at risk." da Wildlife Authority, Bashir ness and human encroach- costs up to $600 in Uganda,
chimpanzees. Even existing measures Hangi, said the decision on ment. Mountain gorillas and thousands of tourists
Mountain gorillas are prone may not be enough to pro- whether to shut down goril- have been listed as critical- pay each year. A similar
to some respiratory illnesses tect them. la tourism is now academic ly endangered or endan- permit costs upward of
that afflict humans. A com- According to Ugandan as there is almost no busi- gered since 1996, although $1,000 in Rwanda. q
mon cold can kill a gorilla, conservationist Gladys
according to the World Kalema-Zikusoka with Con- Ontario to close all non-essential businesses
Wide Fund for Nature, one servation Through Public
reason why tourists track- Health, a study published
ing gorillas are not normally this year by her group and and the well-being of mil-
permitted to get too close. Ohio University showed lions of Canadians.
Around 1,000 mountain go- that measures in place to He called images of people
rillas live in protected areas protect gorillas from hu- out enjoying the sunshine
in Congo, Uganda and mans are not effective in in large groups "extremely
Rwanda, for whom tourism practice. The rule on keep- concerning."
is an important source of ing a safe distance from Trudeau also endorsed the
revenue. But COVID-19 has the gorillas was broken al- decision by the Canadian
led to restrictive measures. most every time a group of Olympic Committee to not
Virunga National Park's de- tourists visited, she said. send athletes to the Tokyo
cision has been welcomed "What the research found Olympics unless they're
by conservationists in the is that the 7-meter rule was postponed for a year.
region. broken almost all the time He also said Canada had
Paula Kahumbu, chief … like 98% of the time," she won approval to send more
executive of the Kenya- said. "But what was interest- planes to bring Canadians
based conservation group ing is that 60% of the time Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addresses Canadians on the home from Peru, Morocco,
WildlifeDirect, told The As- it was tourists that broke it COVID-19 situation from Rideau Cottage in Ottawa on Monday, Spain, Honduras, El Salva-
sociated Press that "ev- and 40% of the time it was March 23, 2020. dor and Guatemala.
ery possible effort must be the gorillas who broke it." Associated Press Trudeau made the com-
made" to protect mountain If close interaction cannot By ROB GILLIES Ford also acknowledged ments outside his residence
gorillas because so few are be prevented, she said, TORONTO (AP) — Canada's students will not going while in self isolation after
left in the wild. one measure that could most populous province back to school on April 6, his wife tested positive for
"We know that gorillas are potentially improve safety said Monday that non- the date initially set for a re- the virus.
very sensitive to human dis- is requiring tourists to wear essential businesses must turn to classes. The prime minister so far
eases," she said. "If anyone masks at all times. close for at least 14 days Canadian Prime Minister resisted the idea of put-
starting at 11:59 p.m. Tues- Justin Trudeau said ear- ting into place the federal
day in efforts to stem the lier Monday, "Enough is equivalent, the Emergen-
new coronavirus pandem- enough. Go home and cies Act, saying Monday
ic. stay home." that since it requires taking
Ontario Premier Doug Ford Trudeau said staying at power out of the hands of
said he will release the list home is a duty and said the the provinces, there needs
of businesses that will be government will enforce it to be a discussion with
allowed to stay open, but if necessary. He said those them first.
food will remain on the gro- who are not doing their part Canada had at least 1
cery store shelves and peo- are putting at risk everyone ,560 confirmed cases and
ple will still have access to else, including the eventual more than 20 deaths as of
medication. recovery of the economy Monday.q