KPRC 2 and the Houston Zoo are in Rwanda to document conservation efforts supported by Houstonians. Follow along with the journey on click2houston.com/conservation.
Sunday in Rwanda started with a trip to the Gorilla Doctors headquarters where Andy Cerota was greeted by someone he first met nine years ago on KPRC 2′s first trip to Rwanda with the Houston Zoo - Dr. Jean Bosco Noheri.
The Gorilla Doctors is a collaboration between Rwanda’s Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project and the University of California Davis Wildlife Health Center. Dr. Noheri, along with the organization’s executive director and chief veterinary officer Dr. Kirsten Gilardi gave us a tour of their impressive new campus which was just dedicated days earlier.
We’ll share that tour in our one-hour program slated to air this fall, but we’ll have much more on the Gorilla Doctors tomorrow after we trek up the mountain with them to do a health check on a gorilla family. We can’t wait!
Just doors down from Gorilla Doctors, another organization we first covered nearly a decade ago is also growing. Conservation Heritage-Turambe (CHT) is run by Valerie Akuredusenge. Through her non-profit, Valerie has reached more than 10,000 local school children and educated them on the importance of mountain gorilla conservation and how simple actions like handwashing can save them and prevent them from catching human illnesses that could have a devastating impact on the gorilla population.
In the evening, Andy and I sat down for a conversation about the visit to CHT.
DAWN: Andy, nine years after you were there, you visited Conservation Heritage-Turambe. Today, what went through your mind when you got off our shuttle at their new headquarters?
ANDY: It was a special moment. You know, I had a flood of emotions, with the biggest one obviously being joy. The minute we pulled in and I could see Val in the distance. I saw her smile instantly. She was showing [Houston Zoo vet staff] Jen and Christine around the garden way back. I could see her smile and it just it made my heart smile, and it was like seeing a family member that I hadn’t seen in maybe a few months. So in this case, it was nine years and. It was nice to just pick up where we left off.
DAWN: So, you saw Valerie today, but were you surprised that there were other people there that remembered you and we’re just as excited to see you?
ANDY: That was something else, to be honest, to see that. I expected to see Emmanuel. I knew he was going to be there. And, some of the other folks. There’s one lady. I still don’t know her name, but I remember her distinctly from nine years ago, and I don’t think she remembered me. But I never forget faces. And I never forget someone’s energy. Their kindness and their warmth. And that is what came flooding back to me today.
DAWN: A lot has changed for Conservation Heritage-Turambe in the nine years since you were last here. Talk about what you saw today that was different.
ANDY: There’s an art gallery. There’s a new headquarters. There’s a beautiful garden.
DAWN: They’re in a lot more schools.
ANDY: There’s a lot more schools. They went from three schools to nine schools, and Valerie wants to triple that in the next ten years.
DAWN: And are you excited about going back to one of those schools tomorrow?
ANDY: I cannot wait to see the faces of those school children as we walk in the classroom. I’m excited to see how they respond to the lessons of conservation and how they embrace the ideology of protecting the mountain gorilla, and why it’s so important for them and for their future.
The Houston Zoo’s Vice President of Conservation and Education Benjamin Jones is also on our journey. He and two members of the Zoo’s veterinary team went on a gorilla trek in the morning, while the KPRC 2 team and a couple additional Houston Zoo staff visited the Gorilla Doctors complex. I also chatted with Ben in the evening about their experience -- which came just 24 hours ahead of us going to see the gorillas ourselves.
DAWN: Ben, you got to go on a gorilla trek this morning for a second time. Anything different about this experience than your first one?
BEN: Well, every experience with gorillas is amazing. And this was no different. It was incredible. It’s hard to describe. Surreal, almost. I keep thinking I was with mountain gorillas this morning. It’s hard to believe. They’re extraordinary animals, some of the most incredible creatures on the planet. And to just be there with them, feet away from them, to see them, to look into their eyes and for them to look into your eyes, to smell them, to hear their sounds. Just being there with them is just the most extraordinary experience. It’s just hard to put into words.
DAWN: Well, you don’t need to put it into words because you took the most incredible picture. (Image featured at top of this article.)
BEN: Well, yeah. And it’s kind of hard to even be present to photograph. You just are in a dream like state, almost, because you can’t believe it’s real. But it’s, it goes down deep. It feels special to be with these animals that mean so much to all of humanity and to know that they’re thriving. Sometimes we talk about coexistence and conservation, about how, you know, people can coexist with wildlife, and that’s what we need to do. But in my mind, I think it’s beyond coexistence, because this is like this human community’s thriving, and these gorillas are thriving, and and we’re thriving together. And that is the ultimate win. There can be win wins. And this is a perfect example of that in conservation.
DAWN: Tomorrow, we get to experience this for the first time. What is your advice for us?
BEN: I say you know, be awake, be present, be open. You know, we’re all going to want photos. We’re all going to want to just try to grab and capture images. Also, there’s time to just be there and just be one on one and focused on the animal. Be present and be in the presence of such a magnificent creature.
Look for updates and more pictures from our trip on click2houston.com/conservation.