For nearly a decade, KPRC 2 and the Houston Zoo have partnered to share stories of conservation efforts around the globe.
We’ve journeyed to Madagascar to learn about efforts to save lemurs, ventured into the jungles of Borneo to witness what’s being done to save elephants and orangutans, and explored the Pantanal in Brazil to see how conservationists are helping giant anteaters, giant armadillos, giant otters, and jaguars. We’ve traveled to tell stories from across Texas all the way to the Galápagos Islands.
While the landscapes and species are different each time, the common bond between all the conservation work we’ve covered is that local people in each region are leading the efforts with the support of the Houston Zoo and every Houstonian who visits the Zoo.
The very first program we produced with the Houston Zoo was “Saving Gorillas: From Houston to Rwanda.” Now, nine years later, we’re headed back to see the progress of work being done to save gorillas, birds, and so many incredible species native to the small African country.
KPRC 2 anchor Andy Cerota was on that first conservation trip in 2015 and made connections he will remember for the rest of his life.
On Feb. 1, a new journey began. Cerota, along with KPRC photojournalist Roger Franco, and I met up with four members of the Houston Zoo team at Bush Intercontinental Airport. My name’s Dawn Campbell and I’ve been involved in the “Saving Wildlife” series since the beginning. I believe conservation begins with education, so I’m thrilled to be able to dive into another program with the Houston Zoo.
The Houston Zoo contingent for this trip includes senior director of marketing and sales Linsey Whitehead, veterinarian Dr. Christine Molter, vet tech supervisor Jennifer Atkinson, and multimedia journalist Kevin Kendrick. Dr. Molter and Atkinson are traveling with veterinary equipment that will be donated to a new wildlife veterinary clinic in Rwanda. While we’re there, they’ll help with setting up the clinic and providing training.
Benjamin Jones, Vice President of Conservation and Education, left a few days ahead of the group and will meet our team upon arrival in Kigali, Rwanda.
The route to Rwanda will take a full day of travel. For us, it includes a stop in Washington, D.C. and then Brussels, Belgium, before one last seven-hour flight into Rwanda.
During the layover in D.C., Andy and I sat down to talk about the trip.
DAWN: So, you were last in Rwanda in 2015. Tell me about your experience.
ANDY: In one word or I guess it’s two -- life changing. I’d never been to Africa before, so I didn’t really know what to expect. I did some research prior to going. I watched some documentaries about the mountain gorilla. Really wanted to familiarize myself with the lay of the land, and I wanted to get an idea of what we were in for. It was life changing. It was magical. I think for me, what struck me the most, obviously, the mountain gorillas. I mean, that was an opportunity of a lifetime. But what struck me just as much as the mountain gorillas were the people. Their warmth and their sheer joy in their hearts and in their smiles. I had never experienced something like that before. And, and to really spend time and to get to know, like the essence of who they are and the things that are important to them. I was just floored by their dedication, their commitment to the conservation program of protecting the mountain gorillas and the lengths that they went to make sure that the children were educated, that the children truly understood the value of being a wildlife warrior.
DAWN: And you made connections, too. I mean, you came home, but you stayed friends with some of the people you met, right? I know you heard from somebody from Rwanda just ahead of this trip back.
ANDY: I heard from Valerie Akuredusenge. She is the program director for Conservation Heritage Turambe, which is a conservation program that is funded by the Houston Zoo. [In 2015], Val took us to a school and the school had no electricity. Like a cement floor, some desks. And this is a gal, along with Martha Parker, who was in charge of conservation education [for the Houston Zoo] at the time. We spent some time in the classroom, and we spent time listening to Martha talk to the children about the mountain gorillas and about talking to the children about the mountain gorillas. And they were drawing pictures of the mountain gorillas. And of course, they were excited that we were there, but they were so excited to learn and they were so engaged. That really was something else to witness that.
DAWN: What does it mean that you actually get to do this life-changing trip twice now?
ANDY: Never in a million years.... I always said to myself when I came back to the States, I said, oh yeah, I’m going to go to Rwanda again on my own, you know, for an excursion and make a vacation out of it. When you came to me .... I remember my jaw practically hit the floor... Are you kidding? I mean, I’m emotional. You know to go once is one thing. And now to be asked to go back and see the people that I met nine years ago and see how things have changed. That’s what ’m truly excited about. And of course, the mountain gorillas. I’m curious about how the zoo has expanded its conservation footprint.
DAWN: We have a bigger group this time coming with us.
ANDY: We have a bigger group. So last time it was myself, it was photojournalist Damon Sales, and it was Martha Parker from the zoo. And that’s it. It was the three of us. And we just, you know, we were all in sync. There was a synergy between the three of us and we made it happen.
DAWN: I worked on the first program from Houston, but this is my first time going to Rwanda. It’s our photojournalist Roger Franco’s first time going. What advice do you have? What do you hope WE get out of it?
ANDY: I want you to savor every moment. I want you both to be as present as you possibly can for every single experience. Listen, I know we’re there to work and we’re going to get the job done, but I really want you to take it all in, because it’s going to be unlike anything you’ve ever experienced before.
DAWN: I’m very excited. But you did worry me some when you talked about the trek up the mountain and it being like, what? Quicksand and mud all at the same time?
ANDY: Yeah. It’s okay. We’re going to Volcanoes National Park, so we’re dealing with volcanic mud. And you have got to be prepared. I don’t remember it being overly strenuous, but the volcanic mud, I mean, it can be like quicksand. So, I warned you.
DAWN: I packed extra boots.
ANDY: So, you have got to have extra boots.
DAWN: And rain pants [as you recommended].
ANDY: Yeah. You need to have wader type boots, rain pants, rain jacket. And, most of the clothing that I brought, it dries quickly. Because you may get soaked from the rain or you may get soaked from your own sweat, because the sun comes out and things really come alive and warms up. And I remember the, the trek up. I don’t necessarily remember like being attacked by mosquitoes. I don’t really remember that even being a problem. But the trek up the mountain, it’s just teeming with wildlife, all kinds of wildlife, which is really amazing to see.
DAWN: I can’t wait.
Follow the Houston Zoo and KPRC journey back to Rwanda on click2houston.com/conservation.