When someone passes away, it takes time to understand the loss. We ask ourselves: « How could someone so precious slip away from us? How can it be possible that we will never see him again in this life? »That is what the family of conservationists and veterinary doctors went through when hearing the passing of Dr. Mudakikwa Antoine, known as Dr. Tony. in the morning of September 20, 2024, When I heard that Dr. Tony left us to join our ancestors, it was quite a shock. I lost my friend, my big brother, and my mentor in my passion for veterinary medicine and for caring about mountain gorillas and other wild animals. But above all, I lost my lifelong supervisor.
More than a supervisor, Dr. Tony became my confidant. A title that he earned from all of us, from his son Rudy, his daughter-in-law Bella, and the entire Mudakikwa family. Being the second mountain gorilla doctor in Rwanda after him, there are a few lessons
I learned from Dr. Tony since 2004. I learned from this incredible man who supported me in my professional career that the word "NO" should not be common in my dictionary. No matter how big or difficult the task, Dr. Tony always answered a call for help.