The importance of message framing in rule compliance by visitors during wildlife tourism

A brief history of primate research in the Ndoki forest

The Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park (NNNP) in Republic of Congo has become a beacon for conservation in Central Africa. This manuscript documents the arrival of primatologists, the establishment of field stations and major discoveries in primate behavior and ecology. Field stations were strategically established to study primate behavior in a variety of different contexts from stationary platforms to forest follows of habituated groups. The implementation of new technologies and analyses have also been a hallmark of research at Ndoki. Scientists are shaping a new era in primatology at NNNP by building on past successes and promoting the next generation of Congolese conservationists to address environmental challenges. Results have proven crucial in discussions with government and industry and led to conservation gains such as the inclusion of the intact forests of the Goualougo and Djéké Triangles into the NNNP. The research stations have also become essential for developing a long-term certified sustainable international gorilla tourism program. Despite the many advancements for conservation such as increased protection of forests, development of internationally recognized protocols and large-scale capacity building initiatives, there are reasons for considerable concern in the near- and long-term for primates and their forest habitats in the Ndoki landscape. To address these concerns, we emphasize the long history of forming partnerships with local communities. We also discuss shared overlap featuring multicultural and environmental use of forest resources that is likely to be crucial in championing the conservation of the Ndoki forests for the next 25 years and beyond.

The reverse zoonotic potential of SARS-CoV-2

There has been considerable emphasis recently on the zoonotic origins of emerging infectious diseases in humans, including the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic; however, reverse zoonoses (infections transmitted from humans to other animals) have received less attention despite their potential importance. The effects can be devastating for the infected species and can also result in transmission of the pathogen back to human populations or other animals either in the original form or as a variant. Humans have transmitted SARS-CoV-2 to other animals, and the virus is able to circulate and evolve in those species. As global travel resumes, the potential of SARS-CoV-2 as a reverse zoonosis threatens humans and endangered species. Nonhuman primates are of particular concern given their susceptibility to human respiratory infections. Enforcing safety measures for all people working in and visiting wildlife areas, especially those with nonhuman primates, and increasing access to safety measures for people living near protected areas that are home to nonhuman primates will help mitigate reverse zoonotic transmission.