Gorilla populations have been decimated by the Ebola virus, with as many as 5,000 casualties in a single outbreak. Studies estimate that 1/3 of total gorilla populations have been wiped out by the virus since the 1990’s. Being marked as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, Ebola poses as a significant threat to their future. The 2014 West Africa Ebola epidemic took the lives of over 11,000 human individuals. Gorillas and humans have a 95% and 50% Ebola mortality rate, respectively. Ebola haemorrhagic fever causes both internal and external bleeding. Transmission occurs through bodily fluids, making the gorillas particularly susceptible due to their social nature. Corpses remain infected for days, adding to the overall spread of the disease. As humans and gorillas come into contact with each other via illegal poaching, deforestation, the illegal wildlife trade, and tourism, it is imperative that preventive measures are taken to avoid future outbreaks. Vaccinations have proven to be successful in eliminating various fatal diseases in the past, making them an ideal candidate for Ebola prevention. There have been successful trials done on chimpanzees; however ethical reasons have prevented further development of a vaccination. The vaccine could be given to wild populations of gorillas through oral administration, allowing for some to develop immunity to the disease. Gorillas are a keystone species as they transport large seeds and pollen throughout the forest. Because of this, it is vital to prevent the spread of the disease to protect the biodiversity of the ecosystem
