From a curious child mesmerized by a neighbor’s pet vervet monkey to a global conservation force, Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka has charted an extraordinary journey.
As Uganda’s first wildlife veterinarian and founder of Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH), she revolutionized how humanity protects endangered mountain gorillas—not by isolating them from people, but by nurturing the health of both.
Her fascination with primates began early—at around age eight, a vervet monkey observing her piano practice charmed her with a single note, leaving her awestruck by its intelligence and dexterity.
This spark led her to revive her high school’s wildlife club, setting in motion a lifelong commitment to animal welfare.
After earning her veterinary degree from the Royal Veterinary College in London, Gladys returned to Uganda in 1996 to establish the first veterinary department in the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
Her research into disease transmission between humans and gorillas revealed a chilling insight: tourism and human proximity could endanger gorilla populations through shared illnesses.
In response, she co-founded Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH) in 2003, championing a One Health approach—a model that integrates wildlife conservation with human and livestock health.
CTPH initiatives range from promoting family planning and improving clinic services in gorilla-adjacent communities to running robust disease surveillance for wildlife.
In 2015, she launched Gorilla Conservation Coffee, a social enterprise empowering farmers near gorilla habitats with fair prices—and reinvesting proceeds into conservation and community health.
Under her leadership, mountain gorilla populations rose significantly—from roughly 300 to over 1,000—contributing to improved species status and the flourishing of ecotourism that now fuels local development.
Her community-driven strategy turned reformed poachers into guides, educators, and conservationists—cementing a sustainable legacy.
Gladys’s work has earned global recognition: she is a United Nations Champion of the Earth for Science and Innovation (2021), a National Geographic Explorer, and has received honors such as the Whitley Gold Award, Sierra Club EarthCare Award, Edinburgh Medal, Aldo Leopold Award, and inclusion in the BBC’s 100 Women list.
Her influence extends to leadership roles across conservation governance: Vice President of the African Primatological Society, chair of the Wildlife Clubs of Uganda, and board member of entities like The Gorilla Organization and Bwindi Conservation Trust.
A typical day for her balances early morning gorilla health checks with coordinating community programs and meetings to foster gorilla-human coexistence .
Gladys’s guiding principle rings with clarity: “If you don’t attend to the needs of the people who share their habitats with gorillas, it’s very difficult to conserve wildlife in the future.”
Her career intertwines conservation science with African community empowerment—showing how protecting a species can uplift entire societies.
A true guardian of both the wild and the vulnerable, she exemplifies how compassion, innovation, and courage can heal ecosystems and nations alike.
