Uniforms for Mountain Gorilla Guardians of Uganda

Empower CTPH's Gorilla Guardians to protect mountain gorillas by providing uniforms that build identity and pride in their critical conservation role.

The Gorilla Guardians, volunteer HUman-GOrilla conflict-resolution teams (HUGO) in communities around Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, need customized shirts and hats that identify them and their role in local conservation efforts. These teams are an essential part of Conservation through Public Health’s (CTPH) efforts to improve the interconnected health of humans, gorillas, and other wildlife. Global GreenSTEM is working with CTPH’s founder, executive director, and wildlife veterinarian Dr. Gladys Kalema Zikusoka, to design and provide these uniforms for the Gorilla Guardians.

WHY ARE GORILLA GUARDIANS SO IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW?

In June of 2020, after months of global lockdowns due to COVID-19, the silverback mountain gorilla Rafiki became an indirect casualty of the pandemic when he was killed by poachers hunting for food in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The pandemic wiped out tourism, a major source of income for communities around the park. Needing to put food on the table, more people have been forced into the protected park to illegally hunt antelope and bush pigs. This has resulted in more accidental confrontations with gorillas, like Rafiki.

GORILLA GUARDIANS PROVIDE A LOCALLY-DRIVEN SOLUTION

Over 125 Gorilla Guardians in communities around Bwindi are doing the work necessary to prevent future accidental confrontations in the community and nearby forest. They have been trained by Ugandan Wildlife Authority to safely 'herd' gorillas and other wildlife back into the protected area when they range into communal land, warding off confrontations and conflict and keeping the Gorillas safe. Additionally, the Gorilla Guardians play a critical role in CTPH’s multi-pronged monitoring of gorilla and community health. As the pandemic has made clear, the health of one is intimately connected with the health of the other. The Gorilla Guardians act as the all-important intermediary to balance the health and needs of both.

Articles to learn more

• ‘Rafiki’s trust was betrayed’: Q&A with conservationist Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka
• Saving gorillas by bringing healthcare to local people in Uganda, an interview with Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka
• For Uganda Villagers, tradition and tourism help keep the peace with gorillas
• For great apes at risk of infection, COVID-19 is also an economic threat
• National parks in Africa shutter over the COVID-19 threat to great apes

THANK YOU!

• Hunter Bailey, an amazingly talented 22-year-old graphic designer/illustrator beginning his career!
• Ouray Sportsware for creating the customized T-shirts and hats

TAX DEDUCTIBLE

Conservation Through Public Health is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in the US.