Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka
Alma mater	Royal Veterinary College (Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine) North Carolina State University (Master of Veterinary Science) Duke University (Certificate in Non-Profit Management) Undisclosed University (MBA in Global Business and Sustainability)
Known for	Study of mountain gorillas, conservation
Awards	Whitley Awards (UK) (2009) EarthCare Award (US) (2018) UNEP Champions of the Earth (2021) Edinburgh Medal (UK) (2022)

Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, born on January 8, 1970, is a Ugandan veterinarian. She is famous for starting Conservation Through Public Health. This group helps endangered mountain gorillas, other wild animals, people, and farm animals live together peacefully in Africa.

Dr. Kalema-Zikusoka was Uganda's very first wildlife veterinary officer. She was also featured in a BBC documentary called Gladys the African Vet. In 2009, she won the Whitley Gold Award for her amazing work in conservation. In December 2021, the United Nations Environment Programme named her a Champion of the Earth for Science and Innovation. This was for her efforts with the One Health idea, which connects the health of people, animals, and the environment.

Early Life and Education

Gladys grew up in Kampala, Uganda. She became interested in animals when she was just 12 years old. She even started a wildlife club at her school! Through the club, she organized trips to Queen Elizabeth National Park to see animals.

Her journey to become a vet began when she won a scholarship. This allowed her to study at the University of London Royal Veterinary College. She earned her first degree in veterinary medicine there. Later, in 2003, she got a master's degree in veterinary medicine from North Carolina State University. She also has a special certificate in managing non-profit organizations from Duke University. Her most recent degree, an MBA, was completed in 2016.

Personal Life

Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka is married to Lawrence Zikusoka. He is a technology expert and helped start Conservation Through Public Health. They have two children together.

Protecting Wildlife and People

In 1996, when Gladys was 25, she became the veterinary officer for the Ugandan Wildlife Service. This group later joined with Uganda's national parks to form the Uganda Wildlife Authority. She was the first person ever to have this important job. At that time, there were about 300 gorillas in Bwindi. By 2018, the number grew to around 460. This increase helped change the mountain gorilla's status from "critically endangered" to "endangered."

Gladys also led the first effort to move wild animals to new homes. This helped restock Uganda's national parks after many animals were lost during Uganda's civil wars.

Understanding Gorilla Health

As part of her research, she discovered something very important. Diseases from humans could easily spread to mountain gorillas. This was a big danger for the gorillas.

After showing how human diseases could harm or even kill gorillas, Gladys and her colleagues, Lawrence Zikusoka and Stephen Rubanga, started Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH). They wanted to improve the health of both people and the environment in Africa.

Conservation Through Public Health

CTPH is a non-profit group based in Uganda and the USA. It runs programs that:

• Protect gorillas and other wildlife from diseases carried by humans and farm animals.
• Help reduce human and farm animal diseases near wildlife areas.
• Encourage local communities to use family planning.
• Use technology to help local development and teach people about the environment.

Dr. Kalema-Zikusoka is the CEO of this important organization.

CTPH was founded in 2003. In 2015, they started a program called Gorilla Conservation Coffee. This program helps local farmers get better prices for their Arabica coffee. When farmers earn more money, their communities are healthier. This means fewer diseases are passed to the gorillas. Also, tourists who walk through the farmers' gardens on gorilla treks pay a small fee. This money stays with the farmers, helping them even more.

Awards and Recognitions

Dr. Kalema-Zikusoka has received many awards for her work. These honors recognize her efforts in protecting the environment and helping people.

In 2009, she won the Whitley Gold Award. This award is often called the "Green Oscars" because it's one of the top prizes in conservation. In 2008, the San Diego Zoo gave her its Conservation-in-Action Award. She was also chosen as an Ashoka Fellow in 2006. In 2007, Seed Magazine named her one of their eight "Revolutionary Minds in Science."

Gladys was featured in the BBC documentary Gladys the African Vet. She has also appeared in documentaries on National Geographic, Animal Planet, and other TV channels. In 2008, she was one of nine international environmental leaders asked to write a letter to the next US president for Sierra Club Magazine.

In 2018, the Sierra Club in the United States gave her the EarthCare Award. This was for her special work in protecting the environment and helping communities and mountain gorillas live together in Uganda. She received this award in Denver, Colorado, USA.

In December 2021, she was named a United Nations Environment Programme's Champion of the Earth for Science and Innovation.

In April 2022, Dr. Kalema-Zikusoka received the Edinburgh Medal. This award recognized her work in improving the lives of both people and wildlife. She is a leader in using "One Health" approaches. This means she helps people and animals coexist in and around protected areas in Africa.

In November 2023, the BBC included Dr. Kalema-Zikusoka on their 100 Women list. This list celebrates inspiring and influential women from around the world.

Images for kids

• 

  Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, a leading conservationist.

See also

In Spanish: Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka para niños