For several years now, the number of mountain gorillas in Volcano National Park is increasing constantly, with more than 1000 individuals now, up from 680 individuals in 2008.
In the assessment that was conducted in 2018 from the International Union for Conservation of Nature(IUCN) Red List, mountain gorillas were reclassified from critically endangered to Endangered thanks to conservation efforts.
Contributing to conservation milestones of the kind across the region are men and women who dedicated their life to safeguarding the primates, and among them was Antoine Mudakikwa, the first Rwandan mountain Gorilla doctor.
Mudakikwa passed on September 20 after nearly 30 years working, first with Gorilla Doctors organization(two years) and with Rwanda Development Board(RDB) for the remainder of his professional career.
At RDB, he was head wildlife veterinarian – an important position, and what kept Gorilla Doctors and Dr. Tony working together closely until his retirement from RDB.
Dr. Mudakikwa, first Rwandan, if not African gorilla doctor left a great legacy in the community of gorilla doctors and wildlife conservation at large. He will be remembered for giving the country his immense knowledge.
Several people paid tribute to the late Tony and said that his legacy will live forever.
Dr. Richard Muvunyi first connected with Mudakikwa in 2012, right after his undergraduate studies. He was in professional internship with MGVPPredict Project while Dr. Tony was serving as the Country Wildlife head veterinarian.
“He was the one who shaped my career path, and today, I am performing the duties he once held as his successor. Yet,
I feel unworthy to fully embrace his title, as he set the bar exceptionally high with his knowledge, dedication, and professionalism. His brilliance, analytical mind, and profound knowledge shone through in every project we undertook together,” Muvunyi said.
“Dr. Tony remained a cornerstone of our team, a sought-after source of wisdom for family, friends, and
colleagues. We have truly lost an irreplaceable treasure.”
Muvunyi pleased Mudakikwa’s legacy is of unwavering commitment to conservation. His life’s work has left an indelible mark on all of us fortunate enough to have worked with him.
His legacy, he said, will live on in our continued efforts to protect and conserve Rwanda’s rich biodiversity.
Also testifying about Mudakikwa’s life, Prof Tony Goldberg from University of Wisconsin, USA, said: “Mudakikwa helped inspire a generation of one health practitioners, including myself. For example, Tony engaged me as part of a team of professionals to help design a national program for wildlife health in Rwanda. ”
To make his point, the academician further said that Tony’s vision was for Rwanda to become a regional leader in managing the health of its wonderfully diverse wildlife.
“He understood the barriers, but also the importance of the task, and he saw how Rwanda could set the standard for East Africa. Tony also had keen interests in infectious diseases of wildlife, and we discussed issues ranging from bacteria in apes to viruses in bats and how Rwanda might better prepare itself to meet such challenges,” he said.
“Those of us who made careers in one health will also remember him for his mentorship. Somehow, despite always running around the country, he found time to inspire early career scientists and convince them they could make a difference. In these ways, he influenced the “one health” movement on a global scale. Those of us who benefitted from his kindness and wisdom will miss him very much.”
Also talking about Tony was Dr. Jonathan Sleeman Science Advisor, Wildlife Health and Ecology USGS, Midcontinent Region.
For him, he met Tony in his earlier services in 1995 when he was hired as the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project veterinarian, and he says: “It was clear from the first day I met him that he was a special person. He was not only talented, but also kind and charming. He quickly became not only a colleague but a good friend.”
Ever since, Sleeeman said they went together to wedding or went to hang out to typically Rwanda’s bar to enjoy local delicacies.
“He was also a good leader. One time when we were driving back to Kigali from Volcanoes National Park his car was knocked off the road by a passing truck, and it rolled into a ditch. Fortunately he was not hurt. I was in a bit of shock. He took charge making sure everyone was safe, and made sure we got the car back onto the road and back to Kigali. He explained that if we left it, the wheels would probably be missing by the morning,” Sleeman recalls.
Tony is credited for having set up the Mountain Gorilla Skeletal Project which has become a valuable source of scientific information about the gorillas.
Uwingeri Prosper, Chief Park Warden of the Volcanoes National Park since 2008, said that Tony was the first person to show that Rwandans are also able to contribute to gorilla conservation.
“People think that gorilla conservation was an exclusivity of the foreigners; for us, contributing to gorilla conservation is a legacy of Tony,” Uwingeri said.
“As Rwandans, ensuring conservation of the gorillas means that they are in good hands. Following Tony’s foundation, we are confident that we have gorilla conservationists today, tomorrow and forever.”
“As a new recruit to the Uganda Wildlife Authority in 2001, I was sent to Rwanda for six weeks to be trained by Dr. Tony in gorilla health monitoring. I have since had many memorable moments including good, wild and crazy ones throughout the years…including rescuing a giraffe from a snare in Akagera National Park, Rwanda.” – Dr. Benard, head veterinarian, Uganda said.
“I will forever miss him. I put him in the category of my ‘Dad’ in professional matters. The veterinary fraternity in Rwanda and the region will equally miss him.” – Dr. Julius Nziza, head veterinarian, Rwanda.
“For me, Dr. Tony is my mentor and a great icon in the conservation and protection of gorillas.” says Dr. Jean-Paul Kabembe Lukusa, employee health program manager, DR Congo.
Meanwhile, following a proposal of several people including Dr. Sleeman and Dr. Nziza, a partnership with University of Rwanda is being forged where there is consideration of starting “Tony Scholarship’ which could be awarded to students of conservation.
