Gladys K Zikusoka

I am thrilled to share that I have been selected as one of the Top 5 @CNN Heroes of 2026 out of thousands of nominations worldwide.

When I became Uganda's first #wildlife veterinarian, I never imagined that caring for mountain gorillas would lead to a movement linking public health, conservation and sustainable livelihoods. Through @CTPHuganda we've seen that when communities thrive, gorillas thrive. Our work with over 10,000 households has helped the Bwindi gorilla population grow by over 50%.

This recognition shines a light on Uganda and on the One Health approach for the whole world. The final winner is decided by your vote. I humbly ask for your support:

Vote here: edition.cnn.com/world/heroes/v…

Voting is open now until November 29, 2026. 10 votes per day. Together, we can show that the world cares about gorillas and people co-existing. #CNNHeroes2026 #CNN #walkingWithGorillas #OneHealth @LillyAjarova

My friends, 💚

Saving gorillas by improving human hygiene is the heart of our work.

When people are healthy, gorillas are healthy. When gorillas are healthy, the forest is healthy. We are all connected.

Please keep voting for me for @CNN Hero and if you can, please donate to @CTPHuganda Every vote, every dollar, protects gorillas, people, and the forest of Bwindi.
Thank you for walking this journey with me.

When we protect one, we protect others.

#CNNHeroes #VoteForGladys #CTPH #OneHealth #WalkingWithGorillas

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Yesterday, I was truly honoured to give a keynote speech at the @InsideNatGeo: Principles in Practice — Education and Community Engagement Symposium in Cape Town. This was followed by the screening of Africa Earth’s Wild Home where our work is featured! youtu.be/7IQvvawUDzw

This symposium is exploring the future of conservation education and how co-creating learning solutions with local communities drives sustainable environmental change.

I shared my leadership journey, and the influence that my parents had on my life, as well as the support from my mother, Hon Rhoda Kalema.

Starting out as an animal lover with many pets at home, I revived the wildlife club in @KibuliSecSchool, which nurtured my interest in wildlife. After conducting a study of the critically endangered mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, I felt compelled to become a full time wildlife veterinarian.

As the first veterinary officer of @ugwildlife, I led a team that investigated the first recorded disease outbreak in the mountain gorillas that came from the local communities. This led to the founding of @CTPHuganda in 2003. Today, our conservation work is led by the communities themselves.

I am truly grateful to @NatGeo for the great support on this journey and for supporting a study that is building upon our efforts to foster coexistence between people and gorillas, as a @ROLEX Perpetual Planet Explorer.

Happy Birthday to Her Royal Highness, Nnaabagereka Sylvia Nagginda, Queen of @BugandaKingdom_ 👑💚

Your Royal Highness, today we celebrate you, our Queen, our Patron, and a true champion for gorilla conservation.

We will never forget the day you officially opened CTPH programs at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park You believed in our vision that healthy gorillas, healthy people, and a healthy forest go together.

And we will never forget that you became the first Queen in the world to trek the mountain #gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. You walked with us, in the forest, to see them with your own eyes. That moment inspired the whole world.

Thank you for your compassion, your dignity, and your courage. Thank you for championing women, girls, families, gorillas, and the communities who live beside them.

On your birthday, we wish you good #health, long life, joy, and God’s abundant blessings.

Happy Birthday, Queen Sylvia! 🎂

#HappyBirthdayNnaabagereka #OneHealth #WalkingWithGorillas

Every time I hear that a baby mountain gorilla has been born, I get so excited😆

It gives us hope. It tells us that our conservation efforts are working.

I have learnt so much from the gorillas. They are such good, patient mothers. They breastfeed their babies for up to three years, so that each baby grows up emotionally independent ready to help babysit the next one.

The babies watch the elders chest beat, and they try it too. They play with their older siblings. That play is how they learn to survive and thrive

When we protect gorillas, we protect the forest and other wildlife. When we protect the forest and the people who live beside it, we protect ourselves.

If this story moves you, please vote for me, you can vote 10x every day till 29th November!

#CNNHeroes #OneHealth #WalkingWithGorillas #Conservation

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