A Visit from our Rwanda Partners, Drs. Deo and Jessica

January 21, 2025

On August 30, 2024, our newest exhibit, The Fondren Foundation Birds of the World, opened, inviting guests to explore the incredible diversity and beauty of bird species from around the globe. One of the featured aviaries, African Savanna, spotlights the majestic grey crowned cranes and highlights the Zoo’s conservation partnership with Rwanda Wildlife Conservation (RWCA).

Dr. Deo visiting the sea lion tunnel in our Galápagos Islands exhibit.

Last fall, we had the pleasure of hosting Dr. Deo Ruhagazi, deputy director of RWCA, and Dr. Jessica Kamatenesi, a field veterinarian, who are helping to save grey crowned cranes and other wildlife in Rwanda. Dr. Jessica is the first female wildlife veterinarian in Rwanda. They received hands-on clinical training from the Zoo’s veterinary team, working with a variety of animals to expand their skillset.

Dr. Jessica seeing our giant river otters swim by in our South America’s Pantanal exhibit.

This was not the first time they had worked alongside our vet team. In February 2024, our very own Dr. Christine and vet tech supervisor Jennifer traveled with our friends at KPRC-2 to Rwanda as part of our Saving Wildlife: Return to Rwanda special. They got to visit RWCA’s new vet clinic – the first of its kind in Rwanda – and provide in the field training to the RWCA team. The vet clinic opening would not have been possible without the support of vet staff, Ruth and Katie, who handled researching, procuring, purchasing, and shipping equipment and supplies for the new clinic.

Dr. Jessica assisting our veterinary team with a routine exam of our Amur leopard, Lisa. Toby Otieno, Operations and Impact Director for Ewaso Lions in Kenya was also visiting that week.

Fast forward back to Drs. Deo and Jessica trip to Houston. In addition to the veterinary training, they met with several departments and hosted a lunch & learn to share more on their wildlife-saving work with staff and volunteers. They also hosted two watch parties for staff and volunteers for the KPRC-2 Return to Rwanda special. They closed out their visit at Zoo Ball 2024 – Wings of Wonder presented by Phillips 66, which raised over $2.6 million to support the Zoo.

Bonus: They got to see the Zoo’s wildlife-saving work in action, helping release two loggerhead sea turtles back into the wild in Galveston.

Every time you visit the Zoo, you’re helping our partners, like Drs. Deo and Jessica, who are working to protect and save animals, like the grey crowned crane, around the world.