Imagine being trampled on by elephants, as a work hazard.
What an extraordinary book, based on the life of an iconic, resilient and non apologetic individual, Dr. Gladys Kalema.
Two years ago, when the team at Babishai researched on iconic Ugandan women to write about in their poetry anthology, 'Feeling,' Dr. Gladys Kalema, was amongst the first.
She is a conservationist, Uganda's first wildlife veterenarian, founder of Conservation Through Public Health, that uses a one health approach regarding health of both humans and animals for longevity, and recipient of the 2026 CNN Heroes' Award, amongst others.
Her autobiography, 'Walking With Gorillas,' is a walk with determination, faith and resolve.
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With a mentor and aspiration like Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai for her work in conservation, it i no wonder that throughout the biography, we witness the many ways in which Gladys overcame, to become who she is, and the journey continues.
Starting from a wildlife club at Kibuli Secondary School, shere she studied for her A level beause her O level school was rather too rigid, she says in her own words, the spark for wildlife continued to brighten.
Being fascinated by animals at a young age and receiving an opportunity to work at Uganda Wildlife Authority as the first wildlife vet, after which she had to make split second decisions with tranquilizing animals as they are translocated, travelling with giraffes and elephants in the same carrier and gaining more knowledge with experts in the wider East Africa.
She lost a couple of friends who were trampled on by elephants, an unusual and devastating work hazard and yet there are numerous rewards from her work.
Gladys was also in the U.S at the time of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, and thankfully survived.
Observing how human health directly impacts animal health, especially those of gorillas, chimpanzees which bear strong DNA as humans, this led her to enormous discoveries.
The main advocacy and lesson that we learn is that advocacy with the communities is a far better approach to achieving animal conservation goals. The community leaders, health practitioners and dwellers are integral to any work that involves their home.
Bwindi is no exception and most of the success registered through Gladys' work and those of the other rangers and conservation experts, was because they worked alongside the community leaders, building trust that took months, years and whose impact is felt even decades later.
That is a poignant thread throughout the book, which is available in major bookshops around the world and whose audible version is also available.
Enjoy reading!
Bless!
Bev
