By Alex Gahima
Dr. Nelson Francis Bukamba 28, a Wildlife veterinarian working with Gorilla Doctors, an organization dedicated to saving the mountain and eastern lowland Gorilla species using veterinary medicine and a One Health approach becomes the first Ugandan to win the YMKE Warren Memorial Conservation Award.
The Ymke Warren Memorial Gorilla Conservation Award was established in 2014 to fund promising young African primatologists.
Through the Gorilla Organization, the winner of the award also gets a grant of 750 Pounds to support fieldwork.
Dr. Bukamba’s works at Gorilla Doctors revolves around research.
As fortune would have it, Dr. Bukamba submitted a research project he is working on as part of his thesis at the University of Edinburgh where is he currently pursuing a Masters in Conservation medicine.
The project is an epidemiological survey assessing Baboons, Dogs and Pigs as reservoirs for Strongyloides identified in Mountain Gorillas around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda.
According to Bukamba, the research will help inform Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and other public health experts on how to address this disease that has since been neglected.
The World Health Organization, control of neglected tropical diseases suggests says Strongyloidiasis is a chronic parasitic infection of humans caused by Strongyloides stercoralis.
Transmission occurs mainly in tropical and subtropical regions but also in countries with temperate climates.
An estimated 30–100 million people are infected worldwide; precise data on prevalence are unknown in endemic countries.
Infection is acquired through direct contact with contaminated soil during agricultural, domestic and recreational activities.
Strongyloidiasis is frequently underdiagnosed because many cases are asymptomatic; moreover, diagnostic methods lack sensitivity.
Dr. Bukamba says, recent data suggests that infant gorillas are being affected by this parasitic infection which can cause death, if not diagnosed in time.
He further explained that communities that live around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park have animals like dogs and pigs which they keep at free range therefore it is possible that this disease can easily be transmitted to the Mountain Gorillas and vice versa due to poor sanitary conditions as well as inaccessibility to de-worming medication.
A recent study conducted by Makerere University in Kisoro district revealed that more than 90% of the population has intestinal worms.
“I hope that my research will go a long way in providing critical information to public health experts and this will help the Mountain Gorillas as well as the communities”, Bukamba said.
He further says, as part of his research work, closely being supported by Gorilla Doctors, they have managed to de-worm over 100 pigs and vaccinated over 100 dogs, goats and sheep.
Bukamba says he was inspired to become a wildlife Veterinarian by Dr. Racheal Mbabazi of Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Center (UWEC) while in his senior four because she was the first female wildlife doctor he had ever since in his life.
He also appreciates Dr. Fred Nizeyimana of Gorilla Doctors who has been instrumental as a mentor and colleague.
“Developing a vision board and tracking my progress made it realistic for me to get to my dream job. If you are a young conservationist, make use of such awards to get technical and financial support so that you can make a difference in the world of conservation”, Bukamba said
Dr. Sam Werikhe of Gorilla Organization said this award has been in place for several years however it was briefly interrupted by COVID -19 pandemic and the lockdown.
Werikhe said it is an honor to have a Ugandan wining this award and noted that it is open to the public and all those with good ideas in line with conservation should give it their very best by visiting gorilla.org
Uganda Wildlife Authority Acting In-charge for Mgahinga Gorilla National Park Moses Turinayo said Conservation efforts in the country are beginning to pay off as more people are becoming aware of their role in protecting the mountain Gorillas.
Recent data from IUCN suggests that the Mountain Gorilla which stands at 1063 is no longer critical endangered but now endangered which is a significant step towards the right direction.
Turinayo said Human Wildlife conflict is still a major challenge especially poaching and encroachment of the protected areas however it is being addressed through continuous sensitization.
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