Uganda: A Special Mission to Protect the Mountain Gorillas!
In Uganda, veterinarians and park rangers are doing everything they can to protect mountain gorillas from the Ebola virus. Their mission is very important because these amazing animals are very closely related to humans.
Did you know that mountain gorillas share more than 98% of their DNA with people? That is why they can catch some of the same diseases as humans.
The good news is that no mountain gorillas in Uganda have been infected with Ebola. To keep them safe, experts carefully watch over the animals every day in Bwindi National Park, where nearly half of the world’s mountain gorillas live.
An organization called Conservation Through Public Health has donated thermometers, communication devices and protective equipment to the park rangers. This will help them check that visitors, rangers and gorillas all stay healthy.
Scientists also want everyone to know one important fact: gorillas do not cause Ebola. Researchers are still working to discover where the virus originally came from so they can better protect both wildlife and people.
