Title: Senior Field Veterinarian, Uganda
Gorilla Doctor Since: 2010
Favorite Part of the Job: My favorite part of working with Gorilla Doctors is being able to make a direct, tangible impact on the lives of endangered gorillas. There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing an injured or sick gorilla recover and return to its family group, knowing that our work helped ensure their survival.
Memorable Moment: A moment that stays with me is the first time I stepped into Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. It was surreal, surrounded by the dense beauty of the forest and the sounds of wildlife. That day, I spotted an incredible young gorilla named Kashaasha, who was less than a month old, nursing amid her family group. She was the most beautiful creature I had ever seen—so tiny, fragile, and yet full of life. Watching her so peacefully nestled among the other gorillas reminded me of the immense responsibility and privilege of this work.
Favorite Animal/s (besides gorillas of course): Other than gorillas, my favorite animal is a dog. Growing up, I had a profound experience seeing a beautiful old dog being mistreated simply because it had grown old and was no longer seen as ‘useful.’ It broke my heart, and I remember feeling powerless to help at the time. That experience stayed with me and inspired me to become a veterinarian. Dogs are loyal, loving companions, and they deserve to be treated with kindness and dignity at every stage of their lives.
Recent Blog Posts
- World Gorilla Day Fun with the Gorilla Doctors Team
- Chaos During a Snare Rescue? Not for Dr. Ricky!
- The Journey of the Gorilla Outfits
Select Publications
- Simian homologues of human herpesviruses and implications for novel viral introduction to free-living mountain gorillas, American Journal of Primatology, 2023.
- One Health surveillance highlights circulation of viruses with zoonotic potential in bats, pigs, and humans in Viet Nam, Viruses, 2023.
- Socializing One Health: an innovative strategy to investigate social and behavioral risks of emerging viral threats. One Health Outlook, 2021.
