At age 12, Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka founded a wildlife club at her school in Kampala, initiating a lifelong commitment to animal conservation. By 1996, at age 25, she became the first wildlife veterinary officer for the Ugandan Wildlife Service, tasked with protecting the Bwindi mountain gorilla population, which then numbered approximately 300 individuals.
Veterinary Foundation and Research
Kalema-Zikusoka pursued professional veterinary training through studies at the University of London Royal Veterinary College, where she earned a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine. She later obtained a Master of Veterinary Medicine from North Carolina State University in 2003, followed by a Master of Business Administration in 2016 and a certificate in non-profit management from Duke University. Her early field research identified that parasite transmission from humans to mountain gorillas posed a critical survival risk. This discovery highlighted the necessity of managing human disease to prevent the potential extinction of these primates.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Conservation Through Public Health
In 2003, Kalema-Zikusoka co-founded Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH) alongside Lawrence Zikusoka and Stephen Rubanga. As CEO, she directed the organization to address the interplay between ecological health and local human communities. The CTPH model integrates wildlife protection with initiatives such as expanding local access to family planning and improving communication infrastructure. In 2015, the organization launched Gorilla Conservation Coffee, a program designed to assist local farmers in achieving international market prices for Arabica crops. By increasing household incomes, the initiative reduces the economic necessity for activities that heighten disease transmission risks between residents and the gorilla population.
Public Policy and Recognition
Throughout her career, Kalema-Zikusoka pioneered translocation strategies to restock national parks following poaching incidents during Uganda's civil wars. Her efforts contributed to a demographic shift, with Bwindi gorilla numbers rising to approximately 460 by 2018, leading to a status reclassification from critically endangered to endangered. The international community has honored her contributions with several awards, including the 2009 Whitley Gold Award, the 2018 Sierra Club EarthCare Award, and the 2022 Edinburgh Medal. In 2021, the United Nations Environment Programme named her a Champion of the Earth for Science and Innovation.
Fast facts
- Born: 1970, Kampala, Uganda
- Founder: Conservation Through Public Health
- Education: King's College London, North Carolina State University
- 2022 Award: Edinburgh Medal
- 2021 Recognition: UN Champion of the Earth
- 2009 Recognition: Whitley Gold Award
- 2023 Inclusion: BBC 100 Women list
- Notable Book: Walking with Gorillas: The Journey of an African Wildlife Vet
Questions readers ask
What is the focus of Conservation Through Public Health?
The organization promotes the coexistence of humans and wildlife, specifically mountain gorillas, by mitigating disease transmission risks and supporting local economic development.
How did Kalema-Zikusoka contribute to gorilla population growth?
She served as the first wildlife veterinary officer for Uganda, where she implemented disease control and animal translocation programs that supported the increase of the Bwindi gorilla population.
Achievements
- Educated at King's College London and North Carolina State University
