The Wildlife Health Center - UC Davis

Our Mountain Gorilla One Health Program is based at the UC Davis Wildlife Health Center (WHC), a Center of Excellence within the School of Veterinary Medicine with the mission of balancing the needs of people, wildlife and the environment through research, education and service. WHC is comprised of 13 epidemiologists, disease ecologists and ecosystem health clinicians and their staff working at the cutting edge of pathogen emergence and disease-tracking in ecosystems. It benefits from the expertise of 50 other participating UC Davis faculty members from many disciplines who are involved in the discovery and synthesis of information about emerging zoonotic diseases and ecosystem health. Dr. Kirsten Gilardi and Dr. Mike Cranfield are both staff veterinarians for WHC.

The Maryland Zoo Baltimore

The Maryland Zoo serves as a home base for MGVP Director Dr. Mike Cranfield , where he acts as a consulting veterinarian, as well as MGVP support staff Nina Storch, the assistant to Dr. Mike Cranfield, and veterinary technician Jennifer Sohl. At the zoo, Jennifer manages our bio bank, which stores tissue and fluid samples collected from gorillas over the years. The bio bank is used by researchers from around the world studying gorilla health issues. The Maryland Zoo is based in Baltimore and has a collection of more than 1,500 birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles, representing nearly 200 species.

Rwanda Development Board

The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) includes all the government agencies responsible for the entire Rwandan investor experience. This includes key agencies responsible for business registration, investment promotion, tourism, environmental clearances, and privatization and specialist agencies. RDB oversees the management of Rwanda's three national parks, including Volcanoes National Park. MGVP works with Volcanoes National Park and RDB officials in its efforts to monitor and care for Rwanda's mountain gorillas.

Congolese Wildlife Authority

L'Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN), or the Congolese Wildlife Authority, traces its origins to 1925 with the creation of Africa's first national park, Albert Park, which is now called Virunga National Park. MGVP works with Virunga National Park and ICCN officials in its efforts to monitor and care for the Democratic Republic of Congo's mountain gorillas. In addition, MGVP works with ICCN officials in Kahuzi-Biega National Park to monitor the health of eastern lowland gorillas.

Uganda Wildlife Authority

The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) was established in August 1996 by the Uganda Wildlife Statute, which merged the Uganda National Parks and the Game Department. UWA manages 10 national parks, including Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. MGVP works with UWA officials in both of these parks in order to monitor and care for Uganda's mountain gorillas.

Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International

Founded by Dian Fossey in 1978, Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International is dedicated to the conservation and protection of gorillas and their habitats in Africa. DFGFI supports continued research on the gorillas and their threatened ecosystems and provides education about their relevance to the world. In collaboration with government agencies and other international partners, DFGFI also provides assistance to local communities through education, health, training, and development initiatives. The Gorilla Doctors work with DFGFI to coordinate health screenings and medical interventions for gorillas within DFGFI's research groups in Rwanda.

International Gorilla Conservation Programme

The mission of International Gorilla Conservation Programme is to conserve the critically endangered mountain gorillas and their habitat through partnering with key stakeholders while significantly contributing to sustainable livelihood development of the people living around gorilla habitat. IGCP comprises three coalition partners: African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), Fauna & Flora International (FFI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). MGVP and IGCP collaborate on various conservation projects including the 2010 Virunga Massif Mountain Gorilla Census and ranger intervention training.

Partners in Conservation

From its base at the Columbus Zoo in Ohio, Partners in Conservation (PIC) raises money to benefit both conservation and humanitarian projects in Rwanda, DR Congo, and the U.S. PIC funds the salaries of two of our African veterinarians, Dr. Eddy Kambale and Dr. Jean-Felix Kinani. MGVP supports PIC's work with a Rwandan humanitarian project, the Imbabazi Foundation.

Imbabazi Foundation

The Imbabazi Foundation is a non-profit organization established to manage and oversee the operations of the Imbabazi Orphanage in Gisenyi, Rwanda, which was started by the late Rosamond Carr. The Foundation is dedicated to the health, safety, and welfare of the 91 children in its care. Its primary focus is on education, vocational training, and the teaching of life skills to prepare the children for successful adult lives. Gorilla Doctor Jan Ramer is a board member of Imbabazi and MGVP interns frequently work with the livestock at Imbabazi's farm.

Terra Incognita EcoTours Inc.

Terra Incognita EcoTours is MGVP's recommended tour company for Rwanda travel. Gerard "Ged" Caddick founded Terra Incognita in 2004 and has led trips for the World Wildlife Fund, National Geographic Society, the Smithsonian, and the American Museum of Natural History as well as many groups. Ged leads 8-day Rwanda ecotours several times per year, with the trips including dinner and visits with the Gorilla Doctors. Custom trips are also available. A portion of the trip cost is donated to MGVP.

Jack Hanna

MGVP board member Jack Hanna is an American zoo keeper who is the Director Emeritus of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. He was Director of the zoo from 1978 to 1993, and is viewed as largely responsible for elevating its quality and reputation. His media appearances have made him one of the best known and well liked animal experts in the United States. Hanna, nicknamed "Jungle Jack", is instantly recognizable by his khaki safari outfit, deep tan, Southern twang, pseudo-serious delivery, and shaggy hair. Hanna and his family visit Rwanda, his adopted home, often.

Art of Conservation

MGVP partners with the Art of Conservation (AoC) to promote education on improving wildlife and community health bordering Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. Our veterinarians give a demonstration for students enrolled in AoC’s extracurricular conservation and health education program on how and why we treat ill or injured mountain gorillas. Our team uses medical supplies to assimilate an intervention, including a mask, stethoscope, dart gun, and flying dart syringe. During our discussions, students learn that becoming a Gorilla Doctor is a possible career path. Following our visit, AoC students create drawings and paintings depicting themselves as Gorilla Doctors. MGVP also works in collaboration with AoC on information sharing, problem solving, and co-hosting training sessions for our alternative cooking fuel initiatives.

World Primate Safaris

World Primate Safaris specializes in gorilla safaris, orangutan safaris, chimpanzee safaris and lemur safaris combined with other wildlife and cultural aspects of each destination. As part of its Rwanda gorilla tours, World Primate Safaris brings clients to the Gorilla Doctors headquarters in Musanze to tour the facilities and meet with the veterinarians. Each group makes a donation to the Gorilla Doctors..

Gorilla Doctors: Saving Endangered Great Apes, By Pamela S. Turner

This book written for children ages 9 to 12 was named an American Library Association Notable Book and a National Science Teachers Association Outstanding Science Trade Book, and is the winner of the Flora Stiglitz Straus Nonfiction Award and the ASPCA Henry Bergh Award. Kirkus Reviews says: "This is a fascinating look into the work of the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project. Illustrated with stunning photographs, it is a stellar example of children's nonfiction." You can order "Gorilla Doctors" from your favorite online bookseller. Half of all royalties are donated to MGVP.

Adventures in Climate Change

Adventures-in-Climate-Change.com highlights the amazing, incredible ,and sometimes treacherous work being done by scientists, activists, writers, and innovators fighting against climate change. The site promotes the work of the Gorilla Doctors, who are working to save gorillas in a part of the world likely to experience negative impacts as a result of climate change.

Virunga Artisans

The survival of the 700 remaining mountain gorillas greatly depends on the well being of the people who live nearby in Rwanda, Uganda, and DR Congo. By marketing a unique line of quality crafts, coffee, and tea, Virunga Artisans enable local artists to make a living outside of the parks. The proceeds from the sale of Virunga Artisan products go to the artists in fair trade wages and a portion is donated to the Mountain Gorilla One Health Program.