Q: I was in Rwanda in November 2006 and the Susa group was the first one I saw.  I remember seeing the twins at that time.  Do you think that all visitors to the gorilla groups should be required to wear masks, regardless of their health?  Or would the masks scare the gorillas?  Thank you for your good work! 

A: Please see the gorilla doctors blog for more, but the vet project I work for has recommended that the park authority be ready to institute masks, if needed, especially in the case of respiratory illness.  In preparation, we have also made the recommendation that the gorillas be desensitized to the masks--by small groups of park staff testing them, for example.  MGVP has developed updated rules for all visitors to the mountain gorillas, including staff and tourists.  But the final decision rests with government and park officials.

~Dr. Lucy