Conservationists mourn the loss of a true pioneer, visionary, and global advocate for wildlife and the environment – Dr. Jane Goodall. Her groundbreaking 65-year study of wild chimpanzees in Gombe, Tanzania, Dr. Goodall transformed the way we understand primates, their behavior, and their emotional complexity. Her pioneering on chimpanzees deepened our understanding of primate evolution and cognitive complexity.
World Tourism Day 2025. As a mountain gorilla doctor and guardian of their health , I often see social media videos of people touching or being touched by gorillas. This behavior must be strongly discouraged. This behavior must be strongly discouraged. Not only is it unsafe, it poses serious health risks to both humans and gorillas. Please respect the 10 meters distance as per our recommendation during gorilla visitation.
World Gorilla Day 2025 is observed on Wednesday September 24.
It is an annual event dedicated to raising awareness and supporting conservation efforts for gorillas, which are endangered due to threats such as poaching, habitat loss, and disease especially in our region.
At OHAC – Gorilla Health, we are actively engaged in daily efforts to protect gorillas and their habitats. While our work is continuous, we deeply appreciate this internationally recognized day that highlights and reinforces our vital role in gorilla conservation. https://lnkd.in/ejTQu_cu
Gorilla Health Guardian with a rescued baby gorilla
Our vision is to Ensure the survival in One Health ecosystem of human, livestock and the wildlife including the endangered mountain gorilla and the critically endangered Lowland gorilla.
Founded in 2015. The OHAC – Gorilla Health is an oriented team in ‘’One Health Approach’’ for conservation through health care and prevention, consultancy, researches strategies for human, animal and ecosystem.
Linking conservation, development, poverty alleviation through health in and around the gorilla habitat
Founder and CEO of the Organization, Dr. Jean Félix Kinani Sangwa is a renowned mountain gorilla doctor and field Epidemiologist. And Primatologist, best known for documenting the first recorded tool use in wild mountain gorillas and first observation of mountain gorillas drinking water in Volcanoes National Park. In addition to many other publications on international journal. https://lnkd.in/eEpmVcNX
“OHAC – Gorilla Health has played a significant role in raising awareness among local communities about gorilla conservation and combating illegal activities that threaten both the gorillas and community livelihoods.”
Mountain Gorilla Doctor delivering treatment in the Volcanoes National Park ( Dr Jean Felix Kinani and Elisabeth)
Previously, Dr Kinani led the mountain gorilla veterinary program in the Volcanoes National Park (VNP). He is the founder of the One Health Approach for Conservation (OHAC) – Gorilla Health where he integrate veterinary science, primatological research, and conservation leadership through a multidisciplinary One Health approach to protect primates especially mountain gorillas.
Join US on this World Gorilla Day, we invite you to support they work. With science, tradition, tourism, and community engagement, we continue to protect the future of one of the world’s most iconic species.
Support OHAC – Gorilla Health Mission – Save Wild Gorillas
Your donation or involvement helps us make a lasting impact on gorilla conservation.
https://lnkd.in/eUH6MyHZ
One Health Approach for Conservation (OHAC) – Gorilla Health
For more information or if you would like to make a donation, we greatly appreciate it.
You can contact our organization via by email: info@gorillahealth.org/ ohac2004@gmail.com
www.gorillahealth.org – Tel: 0788640986
The Global Impact of Rwanda’s Conservation Leadership
The decision to elevate Kwita Izina into a national and international event was a game-changer. It drew global attention to Rwanda’s conservation model and inspired similar efforts across Africa. According to Dr. Jean Felix:
“The rise of gorilla tourism and our visionary leadership between 2000 and 2005 shifted priorities — conservation was no longer just about survival; it became a valuable economic and national asset.”
Looking Ahead: Kwita Izina 2025 and Beyond
During the 2025 Kwita Izina ceremony, we will name 40 , mountain gorilla babies, including those whose naming was postponed due to the cancellation of the 2024 edition. This event, broadcast globally, plays a key role in raising awareness about conservation and the urgent need to protect endangered wildlife.
While many hope to see baby gorillas live during the ceremony, it’s important to understand that baby gorillas remain within their protected habitat. To see mountain gorillas in the wild, visitors must be over 15 years old and have a permit from the Rwanda Development Board or an accredited tour agency. As part of the celebration, many project are initiated by RDB and schoolchildren often dress in gorilla costumes during the ceremony, symbolizing the connection between communities, youth, and wildlife.
Conservation Challenges and the Way Forward
Despite progress, challenges remain. Illegal wildlife trade continues to threaten endangered species globally. As someone who has rescued many baby gorillas from poachers in DR Congo, Dr. Jean Felix highlights the need to stay vigilant:
“We have seen a reduction in poaching especially for baby gorillas in DRCongo since 2022, but this trend must continue. Ending wildlife trafficking requires political will and strong partnerships across borders.”
Dr. Jean Félix Kinani is a renowned wildlife veterinarian and field primatologist, best known for documenting the first recorded tool use in wild mountain gorillas and first observation of mountain gorillas drinking water in Volcanoes National Park. As previously, he led the mountain gorilla veterinary program in the Volcanoes National Park (VNP), he is the founder of the One Health Approach for Conservation (OHAC) – Gorilla Health, he integrates veterinary science, primatological research, and conservation leadership through a multidisciplinary One Health approach to protect primates—especially mountain gorillas.
To ensure sustainable conservation, we must contribute and support our country as champion by the OHAC – Gorilla Health organization by:
Visit Rwanda: See the Mountain Gorillas in Their Natural Habitat
We warmly welcome all wildlife enthusiasts and conservation supporters to visit Rwanda — one of the few places on earth where you can encounter mountain gorillas in the wild. Protected by well-trained rangers and supported by a world-class conservation framework, these animals are a living symbol of hope, resilience, and what can be achieved through unity and care.
Please join us. And together with the OHAC – Gorilla Health, through science, tradition, tourism, and community engagement, we continue to protect the future of one of the world’s most iconic species.
By Dr Jean Felix Kinani Sangwa
One Health Approach for Conservation (OHAC) – Gorilla Health
For more information or if you would like to make a donation, we greatly appreciate it.
You can contact our organization via by email: info@gorillahealth.org/ ohac2004@gmail.com
www.gorillahealth.org – Tel: 0788640986
The One Health Approach for Conservation (OHAC) – Gorilla Health, together with others partners, proudly joins in celebrating the collective efforts behind the sustainable conservation of mountain gorillas and wildlife, both regionally and nationally. This celebration is a powerful reminder of what collaboration and long-term commitment to conservation can achieve.
On September 5, 2025, we take a moment to honor the incredible growth of the Virunga mountain gorilla population and recognize the vital efforts of the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), the staff of Volcanoes National Park, and all conservation partners. This occasion serves to reflect on decades of dedicated work, during which the mountain gorilla population steadily rose from critically endangered status to endangered population of 604 mountain gorillas across 41 social groups (according to the 2016 census – gorillahealth.org).
From Extinction Threat to Conservation Success
At the start of the 21st century, many scientists predicted the extinction of mountain gorillas due to rampant poaching and habitat loss. However, with the emergence of gorilla tourism in the 1970s, a new path was forged — one that linked conservation with economic opportunity. Protecting these majestic creatures became a national priority, strengthened by increased public awareness and international support.
The Kwita Izina gorilla naming ceremony, officially launched by the Rwandan government i 2005, became a landmark in conservation history. Inspired by Rwanda’s tradition of naming newborns within families and communities, the ceremony became a global platform to celebrate conservation achievements.
As Dr. Jean Felix Kinani Sangwa, Founder and CEO of OHAC – Gorilla Health, explains:
“Before 2005, it was the park trackers who named the baby gorillas. But after extensive consultations with RDB leadership, especially under Rosette Rugamba, the idea was formalized and elevated to an international event.”
Since 2004, Dr. Jean Felix has worked tirelessly to protect mountain gorillas by providing daily care and train wildlife veterinarians, and mentor park trackers, caregivers, and young conservationists in Volcanoes, Akagera, and Nyungwe National Parks in Rwanda, as well as across DR Congo and Uganda.
Thanks to the critical work of our gorilla veterinarians—who provide life-saving medical care and implement a One Health approach—the mountain gorilla population in the Virunga Massif has increased by more than 60% for the past 4 decades. This remarkable recovery highlights the power of science and conservation in action, driven by the One Health model championed by our organization ‘’www.gorillahealth.org’’
Dr. Kinani regularly monitors gorilla health, provides advice of medical interventions (such as treating respiratory outbreaks and injuries), leads field responses and contribute to research publications—activities deeply rooted in primatological practice.
Mountain gorilla doctor monitoring a gorilla patient in Volcanoes National Park during a respiratory infection
Putting community in the central of conservation effort, the OHAC – Gorilla health initiated joint surveillance and control of diseases affecting both gorillas and humans. It plays a vital role in reducing the risk of zoonotic transmission between park personnel and mountain gorillas. This collaborative approach not only helps health professionals monitor and understand the incidence of potentially transmissible diseases but also strengthens conservation efforts by protecting both human and gorilla health under the One Health framework.
One Health Approach for Conservation (OHAC) – Gorilla Health
For more information or if you would like to make a donation, we greatly appreciate it.
By Dr Jean Felix Kinani Sangwa
One Health Approach for Conservation (OHAC) – Gorilla Health
For more information or if you would like to make a donation, we greatly appreciate it.
You can contact our organization via by email: info@gorillahealth.org/ ohac2004@gmail.com
www.gorillahealth.org – Tel: 0788640986
World Elephant Day is observed every year on August 12th. This is the times to honor and protect elephants. This creatures also finds in the Virunga Massif are not only symbols of strength and wisdom but also critical to the health of our ecosystems.
The One Health Approach for Conservation – OHAC, Gorilla Health always raises awareness of the urgent threats elephants face, including poaching, habitat loss, and human-elephant conflict, and encourages collective action to secure their future.
Key Themes and Messages
Protecting Elephants is Protecting Our Planet
Elephants are keystone species and natural “ecosystem engineers.” — from digging waterholes to dispersing seeds — they play an essential role in maintaining biodiversity and the balance of their habitats. Their survival is directly linked to the health of forests, savannas, and other vital ecosystems.
Support Our Mission – Save wild elephants
Your donation or involvement helps us make a lasting impact on gorilla conservation.
https://lnkd.in/eUH6MyHZ
For more information please visit our website www.gorillahealth.org or contact the One Health Approach for Conservation (OHAC) – Gorilla Health) via email : ohac2004@gmail.com or info@gorillahealth.org
Taking care and putting collar on lions in Uganda. All seven lions introduced in Rwanda was fitted with satellite collars, which allow the park management to track their movements.
After the lion introduction in Rwanda, their number increased. The reintroduction of lions in 2015 into the Akagera National Park comes 15 years after the last one was seen in the park.
Thanking the management of the Akagera national park, Africans park and the Rwanda Development Board.
The World Lion Day website states that the main goal of World Lion day is to “save the king of beasts to save ourselves” — a message that is especially important to consider as we remember the life and tragic death of Cecil the Lion in Zimbabwe
Support Our Mission – Save Wild lions
Your donation or involvement helps us make a lasting impact on gorilla conservation.
https://lnkd.in/eUH6MyHZ
For more information please visit our website www.gorillahealth.org or contact the One Health Approach for Conservation (OHAC) – Gorilla Health via email : ohac2004@gmail.com or info@gorillahealth.org