Unhealthy travelers present challenges to sustainable primate ecotourism

Muehlenbein, Michael P.; Martinez, Leigh Ann; Lemke, Andrea A.; Ambu, Laurentius; Nathan, Senthilvel K. S. S.; Alsisto, Sylvia; Sakong, Rosman

doi:10.1016/j.tmaid.2010.03.004

Cited by 87 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…Tourism brings individuals from across the world to an ecosystem with an endangered species sensitive to human pathogens. Only a few studies have been conducted on the role that tourism plays in zoonotic disease transmission in primate-based ecotourism endeavors (Muehlenbein and Ancrenaz 2009;Muehlenbein et al 2010).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

GIARDIA IN MOUNTAIN GORILLAS (GORILLA BERINGEI BERINGEI), FOREST BUFFALO (SYNCERUS CAFFER), AND DOMESTIC CATTLE IN VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK, RWANDA

Hogan

Miller

Cranfield

et al. 2014

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

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ABSTRACT:Mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) are critically endangered primates surviving in two isolated populations in protected areas within the Virunga Massif of Rwanda, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. Mountain gorillas face intense ecologic pressures due to their proximity to humans. Human communities outside the national parks, and numerous human activities within the national parks (including research, tourism, illegal hunting, and anti-poaching patrols), lead to a high degree of contact between mountain gorillas and wildlife, domestic animals, and humans. To assess the pathogen transmission potential between wildlife and livestock, feces of mountain gorillas, forest buffalo (Syncerus caffer nanus), and domestic cattle (Bos taurus) in Rwanda were examined for the parasites Giardia and Cryptosporidium. Giardia was found in 9% of mountain gorillas, 6% of cattle, and 2% of forest buffalo. Our study represents the first report of Giardia prevalence in forest buffalo. Cryptosporidium-like particles were also observed in all three species. Molecular characterization of Giardia isolates identified zoonotic genotype assemblage B in the gorilla samples and assemblage E in the cattle samples. Significant spatial clustering of Giardiapositive samples was observed in one sector of the park. Although we did not find evidence for transmission of protozoa from forest buffalo to mountain gorillas, the genotypes of Giardia samples isolated from gorillas have been reported in humans, suggesting that the importance of humans in this ecosystem should be more closely evaluated.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

GIARDIA IN MOUNTAIN GORILLAS (GORILLA BERINGEI BERINGEI), FOREST BUFFALO (SYNCERUS CAFFER), AND DOMESTIC CATTLE IN VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK, RWANDA

Hogan

Miller

Cranfield

et al. 2014

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

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“…Tourists that visit rehabilitation centers, especially those foreign to the area, can bring in any number of alien pathogens to which resident orangutans have no immunity (Muehlenbein et al 2010). Unregulated or poorly managed tourism can therefore pose genuine threats to rehabilitant orangutans.…”

Section: Factors Influencing Higher Infant Mortality Ratementioning

confidence: 99%

Factors affecting reproduction in rehabilitant female orangutans: young age at first birth and short inter-birth interval

et al. 2011

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This study investigated the reproductive parameters of free-ranging rehabilitant female orangutans. We aimed to assess the factors that influence these parameters and provide information that could assist with the management of orangutan reintroduction programs. We analyzed the birth records of free-ranging female rehabilitants at Bukit Lawang, Bukit Tigapuluh, Sepilok, Camp Leakey, Kaja Island, Sungai Wain, and Meratus and compared them with reproductive parameters reported in wild and zoo populations. Females' ages at first birth were 10.6-14.7 years, significantly earlier than those of wild and zoo orangutans. Computed inter-birth intervals (IBIs) calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method were 65.1-90.1 months; the values for Camp Leakey and Bukit Lawang rehabilitants were significantly shorter than those reported for wild Sumatran orangutans. Infant mortality rates were 18-61%; the values for Bukit Lawang and Sepilok were significantly higher than those reported for wild Sumatran and zoo orangutans. In rehabilitants, young ages at first birth and shorter IBIs may result from the high energy intake enabled by provisioning, although the possibility exists that they reflect underestimations of age on arrival at rehabilitation centers. The observed high infant mortality rate may reflect poor mothering skills due to human rearing and/or increased disease transmission. This study demonstrates that accelerated reproductive rates (younger age at first birth and shorter IBI) are common in provisioned rehabilitant females on both Sumatra and Borneo.

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“…Group size and frequency should be regulated, and visitors kept to a reasonable viewing distance (Klailova et al 2010 ). Tourists may be screened for health concerns or-for particularly sensitive speciesprovided with gloves, face masks, or other items to minimize the risk of disease transmission (Muehlenbein et al 2010 ). Behie et al ( 2010 ) suggest that elevated stress hormones in A. pigra may be a factor of predictability; the monkeys do not know what visitors will do or when they will turn up, causing a marked increase in stress.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Preliminary studies suggest that increasing interactions with humans elevates primate cortisol levels (Behie et al 2010 ), reduces the frequency of social interactions (O'Leary and Fa 1993 ;De la Torre et al 2000 ), alters ranging behaviors and substrate use (De la Torre et al 2000 ;Grossberg et al 2003 ) and increases the potential for cross-species disease transmission (O'Leary and Fa 1993 ;Chapman et al 2005 ;Hsu et al 2009 ;Muehlenbein et al 2010 ). Most tourists are unaware of the potential impact of their behaviors on wildlife (Grossberg et al 2003 ), and the majority of human-primate interactions are initiated by tourists (O'Leary and Fa 1993 ;Sabbatini et al 2006 ;Hsu et al 2009 ;McCarthy et al 2009 ).…”

Section: Tourist Interactionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anthropogenic Habitat Modification, Tourist Interactions and Crop-Raiding in Howler Monkeys

2014

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In this chapter, we review how anthropogenic disturbance specifi cally impacts members of the genus Alouatta , one of the most geographically expansive and ecologically fl exible of platyrrhine groups. This report initiates with a brief discussion of the use of matrix landscapes, the effects of ecotourism, and the potential for crop-raiding by howler monkeys. We then present three case studies of howler monkey responses to these challenges. We found that tourism in Suriname leads to greater travel and foraging time and poorer health for A. macconnelli. A. palliata in Costa Rica living in an agricultural matrix respond to habitat modification through active crop-raiding, and A. pigra in Mexico provide an illustration of how to evaluate remnant monkey populations for potential ecotourism. The chapter concludes with recommendations for encouraging shared landscapes with howler monkeys, including ways to minimize crop damage by monkeys and ways to encourage sustainable, conservation-based ecotourism.Resumen En este capítulo, revisamos cómo los disturbios antropogénicos impactan de manera directa a los miembros del género Alouatta , los cuales son platirrinos con una amplia distribución geográfi ca y notable plasticidad ecológica para adaptarse a su entorno. Iniciamos con una breve discusión sobre el uso de la matriz del paisaje, un análisis de los efectos del ecoturismo y el papel de los monos aulladores en el uso de los recursos que contienen los agrosistemas. Presentamos tres casos de estudio en los que se muestra la respuesta de los monos aulladores a estos desafíos. Encontramos que el turismo en Surinam promueve un mayor tiempo de viaje y

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Unhealthy travelers present challenges to sustainable primate ecotourism

Cited by 87 publications

References 51 publications

GIARDIA IN MOUNTAIN GORILLAS (GORILLA BERINGEI BERINGEI), FOREST BUFFALO (SYNCERUS CAFFER), AND DOMESTIC CATTLE IN VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK, RWANDA

GIARDIA IN MOUNTAIN GORILLAS (GORILLA BERINGEI BERINGEI), FOREST BUFFALO (SYNCERUS CAFFER), AND DOMESTIC CATTLE IN VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK, RWANDA

Factors affecting reproduction in rehabilitant female orangutans: young age at first birth and short inter-birth interval

Anthropogenic Habitat Modification, Tourist Interactions and Crop-Raiding in Howler Monkeys

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