Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka

Biography

Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, born on January 8, 1970, is a Ugandan veterinarian and conservationist who changed wildlife health management in East Africa. She was born in Kampala and became Uganda's first wildlife veterinary officer. She founded Conservation Through Public Health, which tackles the linked health challenges facing humans, endangered mountain gorillas, and other wildlife in Africa. Her new approach acknowledges that the health of communities near protected areas directly affects wildlife conservation.

Kalema-Zikusoka studied at King's College London and North Carolina State University, gaining expertise that later transformed conservation practices in Uganda. On returning to Uganda, she saw crucial gaps in wildlife health management and set up programs that view human and animal health as connected systems. Her work mainly focuses on mountain gorillas in Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, where interactions between humans and wildlife create unique health challenges for both.

Her conservation strategy combines veterinary medicine with community development, realizing that sustainable wildlife protection means also meeting local community needs. Through Conservation Through Public Health, she created programs that offer healthcare services to communities while also protecting gorillas from diseases. This model has shaped conservation efforts across Africa and set new standards for community-driven wildlife protection.

Kalema-Zikusoka's work gained international attention through outlets like the BBC documentary 'Gladys the African Vet,' which highlighted her field work and conservation ideas. She is a trustee of The Gorilla Organization and a leading voice for the One Health initiative, which encourages joint efforts for human, animal, and environmental health. Her research and practical work have greatly advanced the understanding of zoonotic disease transmission and creating prevention strategies in wildlife conservation.