Gorilla Doctors veterinarian teaches class to students

Dr. Methode letting kids try using a stethoscope

Written by Dr. Methode Bahizi

Gorilla Doctors is dedicated to conserving wild mountain and eastern lowland (or Grauer’s) gorillas through life-saving veterinary medicine and science using a One Health approach. Our most important work is to provide these critically endangered animals with direct, hands-on care in the wild.

Helping people to learn about eastern gorillas and the challenges they face in the wild is also important. So as time allows, our veterinarians conduct outreach to a wide variety of audiences, giving various kinds of presentations on gorillas and the importance of Gorilla Doctors’ work for eastern gorilla conservation.

Gorilla Doctors veterinarians teaches students

Dr. Noel shows students the type of dart gun used during Gorilla Doctors field operations

Our Rwanda team particularly enjoys helping teach classes organized by Conservation Heritage-Turambe (CHT). CHT is a local non-governmental organization established in May 2013 that educates communities living near Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda to ensure that people live in harmony with mountain gorillas and their habitat.

This month Drs. Noel and Methode had the chance to talk with schoolchildren about our work, and fielded dozens of questions from enthusiastic kids eager to know everything about gorillas and how Gorilla Doctors does its work.

“It gives us so much hope for the future of gorillas when we meet and talk with young people who are so excited about gorillas and so eager to learn about health and conservation,” said Dr. Methode, Gorilla Doctors Regional Laboratory Manager.

Gorilla Doctors veterinarian teaching students

Dr. Methode presenting to students