SCD Conservation - Fernan-Vaz Gorilla Project

Project Background

The “Fernan-Vaz Gorilla Project” (FVGP), is a project that focuses on caring for gorillas rescued from the bush meat crisis. It was initiated in 2000 with the aim of bridging sustainable tourism and gorilla conservation. Thus, a family of four western lowland gorillas was transferred from the Centre International de Recherche Médical de Franceville (CIRMF) to the then-called “Petit Evengue” project. The initial objective was to improve the family’s quality of life by releasing it onto an island locally referred to as “Petit Evengue.” Tourists would then be allowed to view these gorillas in a semi-captive and natural setting. Two releases were attempted but failed, which subsequently lead to placing this family into a semi-natural forested electrified enclosure.

Goals & Objectives

The overall goals of the Project are:

  • Provide up-to-date care and improve the quality of life of all FVGP resident gorillas;
  • Rescue gorillas who are victims of the bush meat crisis in line with legal confiscation protocols;
  • Contribute to the protection and conservation of wild western lowland gorillas;
  • Apply responsible tourism sensitive and aimed solely at contributing to the welfare and conservation of gorillas.

As such, the following objectives were established;

  1. Apply and develop up-to-date standards of care and protocols, respectively, adapted to rescued
    gorillas who become victims of the African bush meat trade;
  2. Re-introduce orphaned gorillas using scientifically recognised guidelines (i.e. IUCN);
  3. Provide formal training to local staff specific to gorilla husbandry and conservation;
  4. Establish a scientific database on various parameters from rescued gorillas kept in semi-captivity;
  5. Develop and build relevant housing infrastructures with well-defined capacities;
  6. Develop and promote responsible tourism through policies, regulations and education;
  7. Educate local populations on conservation;
  8. Facilitate non-invasive research that aims to contribute to gorilla welfare and/or conservation;
  9. Fight the bush meat trade through law enforcement using local and national authorities, and;
  10. Develop a network with relevant experts and members of the global community.