Uganda’s first wildlife vet on her revolutionary gorilla conservation

WHEN Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka became Uganda’s archetypal wildlife vet successful 1995, determination were conscionable 650 chaotic upland gorillas successful the world, 300 of which were successful Bwindi Impenetrable National Park successful south-western Uganda. The taxon arsenic a full was critically endangered and the aboriginal looked bleak.

Then Kalema-Zikusoka had an idea. At conscionable 25 years old, having precocious graduated from London’s Royal Veterinary College, she recognised that 3 large threats to the gorillas – disease, situation nonaccomplishment and poaching – could beryllium tackled by improving the wellness and well-being of section people. This attack was highly antithetic astatine the time, but is present seen arsenic a exemplary of conservation signifier globally.

In 2003, she near the Ugandan Wildlife Service to go laminitis and main enforcement serviceman of non-profit organisation Conservation Through Public Health. She has spent the past 20 years conserving upland gorillas successful Bwindi, and populations are connected the rise. Her memoir, Walking With Gorillas, volition beryllium published connected 13 April. She spoke to New Scientist astir her beingness and work.

Graham Lawton: How did you get the occupation arsenic Uganda’s archetypal wildlife vet consecutive retired of veterinary college?

Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka: Whenever I came location connected holidays from college, I worked with wildlife. I worked successful Budongo Forest, wherever I did my precise archetypal survey connected wildlife, looking astatine parasites successful the faecal samples of chimps. Two years later, I …