The Fernan-Vaz Gorilla Project in Gabon is a project of Société de Conservation et Développement in affiliation with its main eco-tourism partner, Africa’s Eden. Its mission statement being ‘tourism pays for conservation’, the aim of Africa's Eden is to develop a sustainable approach to conservation through low-impact tourism.

Tourism as part of the solution

As part of the solution to attenuating the bush meat trade, the FVGP recognises the value of responsible tourism in being able to generate the revenue necessary to promote the local economy and provide employment to the local people. Tourism revenue can also help finance the daily operations of conservation-minded projects. Our hope is that tourism in Gabon can eventually provide significant revenue and employment to convert poachers into rangers and to provide local families with revenue that can pay for their children’s education and health care, all the while leaving the gorillas safely within their habitat.

What is Responsible Tourism?

At the Fernan-Vaz Gorilla Project (FVGP), we view "responsible tourism" as an activity that does not compromise the well-being or the welfare of the gorillas, that does not compromise the long-term objectives of the gorillas (for example, reintroduction back into the wild), and that fully integrates members of the local and national community.  Responsible tourism also has minimal impact on the environment, contributes the the local community's economy, and promotes the developement of local and national competencies.  With respect to the FVGP's sanctuary gorillas, viewing should never involve direct physical or visual contact, and should not compromise the welfare of the gorillas being observed including risk for disease transmission. Visits therefore need to be regulated to factor in all potential sources of stress to the gorillas.  We believe that the sanctuary gorillas play an important role in helping us raise awareness on issues related to the bush meat trade and the possible imminent extinction of all african great-apes.  

Gorilla Orphans with Traumatic Backgrounds

Many people would love to hold a baby gorilla (or baby animals in general) because they are charismatic and endearing. What many people forget though is that illegally captured orphans are brutally taken away from their parents, families and habitat. For any animal subjected to human exposure, as minimal and as insignificant as we may think this exposure to be, the potential ability to reintroduce this individual into the wild is critically compromised if not eliminated. Also, there is a risk for disease transmission.  Life in the wild and human exposure are simply incompatible. This is primarily why the gorilla orphans from the FVGP'S Rehabilitation Centre are not exposed to tourists or researchers. The only humans they are subjected to, which are minimal at that, are the local staff who act as their surrogate parents until reintroduction can occur.

For more information on tourism in Gabon, you can visit Africa’s Eden at: http://www.africas-eden.com