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Employee Profile: Get to Know Dr. Fred Nizeyimana
Thursday, September 16, 2010 at 1:58PM 
Drs. Fred, Jan, and Noel and UWA rangers and trackers hike to Mgahinga to perform an intervention.By Molly Feltner, MGVP Communications Officer
Dr. Fred Nizeyimana joined the Gorilla Doctors this year as our Uganda In-Country Field Veterinarian and has been dedicated to monitoring the health of Uganda's mountain gorilla ever since. Born in Kisoro, Uganda, Fred grew up in the shadow of the Virunga volcanoes of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. As a young man, he studied veterinary medicine at Makerere University in Kampala, where he had the opportunity to work on a gorilla research project sponsored by MGVP.
After graduating in 2005, Fred worked as the Acting Project Manager for the Kibale Eco-health Project in Kibale National Park. In 2007 ,he volunteered at the Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary and was later promoted to the role of Sanctuary Manager and Veterinarian.
Dr. Fred at work.MGVP was lucky to hire him this past March. "I was warmly welcomed by everyone at MGVP," says Fred. "MGVP treats us all as a family."
As a Gorilla Doctor, Fred visits each habituated gorilla group—there are 8 groups in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and one in Mgahinga National Park—at least once per month for regular health checks. When a health problem is reported within a particular group, he visits more often to check on the sick or injured individual progress. In the case of life-threatening illness or human-induced trauma, Dr. Fred intervenes to help. Earlier this month Drs. Fred, Jan, and Noel freed an infant gorilla caught in a poacher's snare and treated the baby for his wounds.
Dr. Fred and Jan performing an intervention."Health monitoring and performing interventions are my favorite tasks," says Dr. Fred. "I love doing hands on work with the gorillas and using my full mental faculties to understand what the gorillas need."
Reader Comments (4)
I had the privilege of visiting 3 gorilla groups in August in Rwanda: the Hirwa Group, Sabyinyo Group, and Group 13 (Agashya Group). it was the highlight of our African trip. Seeing them in their natural habitats was truly a thing of beauty. i am so happy that the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project is there, helping to protect and monitor the health of these incredible beings. Thank you for all the great work that you do.
Susan Pearson
Is very good to have a native Dr. in the staf helping each other with all the amazin gorillas
It's nice to see the story about Dr. Fred. My wife and I met Dr. Fred when he was the veterinarian at Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary. We were impressed with his care and concern for each of the chimps, and it was clear that his dedication to animal welfare was paramount. We then travelled on to Rwanda and Bwindi and did treks to visit and admire the mountain gorillas. We had no way of knowing Dr. Fred would end up there, but are so very pleased. We can all feel assured that these magnificent creatures are in capable, caring hands.
I too met Dr. Fred while he was at Ngamba and have followed his work ever since. I am so thankful for your dedication to the work you do Fred, and more importantly for the person that you are. I wish everyone could have the experience of seeing these gentle giants in their natural environment. MGVP accomplishes very important work and I encourage the support of this organization and of Dr. Fred. Thanks again for all that you Jan, Noel and the others are doing on a daily basis.