Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka – Uganda’s first wildlife veterinarian – has been named a UN Champion of the Earth for science and innovation which is the highest honour from the United Nations Environment Programme.
The award ‘recognizes outstanding leaders from government, civil society and the private sector whose actions have a transformative impact on the environment,’ the UN says. ‘Champions of the Earth inspire, defend, mobilize and act to tackle the greatest environmental challenges of our time.’
In addition, Kalema-Zikusoka founded the Conservation Through Public Health organisation, which is aimed at protecting the livelihoods of mountain gorillas, and those who live in the surrounding communities.
Kalema-Zikusoka’s story is nothing short of admirable. After having an encounter with a monkey at a young age, Kalema-Zikusoka quickly became aware of the intelligence primates possess and why it is important to protect them, according to the Mail & Guardian.
She went to a veterinary school in the UK, and after graduation became the first vet for the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). When she stepped into this position, vets for wildlife were still largely unheard of, and so she spent quite a bit of time advocating for the importance of wildlife veterinarians.
Naturally, when the Covid-19 pandemic hit, the risk of transfer of diseases from humans to primates and visa versa became a pressing issue. Kalema-Zikusoka and the UWA enforced numerous measures to avoid this. They started by advocating for individuals who visit gorillas to wear a mask and maintain a 10m distance. As a preventative measure, both gorillas and humans are tested for Covid-19 to contain the spread.
In addition to advocating for gorillas, Kalema-Zikusoka started Women for the Environment Africa, which is a movement advocating for the presence of women in leadership positions, particularly in the conservation and environment space.
Picture: Screenshot of video
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