Dr. Rick Quinn - Answering the Call

ANSWERING THE CALL

We are at a crossroads. Many species, including most of the critically endangered great apes, may not survive beyond this century. In a troubled world so full of problems, it is tempting to feel helpless, to throw up our hands and to give up. But failure is simply not an option.

Many of us regularly hear the call to do something that might make a difference. It’s important to listen to what resonates within you, what stirs you, what seems to awaken you from complacency and push you from the sidelines into engagement. Years ago, I read two magazine articles about great apes and the Gorilla Doctors—and the stories sparked an insatiable curiosity to understand the plight of our closest relatives. Over the past nine years, I have walked amongst and photographed every species of great ape, shoulder-to-shoulder with trackers, guides and veterinary personnel in eight countries on two continents. I understand the complexities of saving them and how much more could be done with our support—our colleagues do so much with so little.

Answering the call that day in my study led to something entirely substantial and life-altering: the formation of Docs4GreatApes. Through the Wildlife ConserVet Education Project, the charity supports post-graduate training of African veterinarians in wildlife medicine.  African countries have created national parks and sanctuaries in an effort to conserve biodiversity.  Many national parks operate without a focus on health—a critical component in the conservation of wildlife and wild places.  There are many eager veterinarians with an interest in working as wildlife field veterinarians, or in disease surveillance, but they do not have the necessary skills and knowledge set to work in national parks and sanctuaries.

As veterinary ophthalmologists, we understand the value of meaningful, high quality and sustainable opportunities for advanced training.  We also remember well the excitement of being able to fulfill our educational dreams.  Within the last month, Docs4GreatApes has selected and funded two young Congolese veterinarians to undertake a one- year internship in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  We have supported three East African veterinarians to successfully compete their MSc in Wildlife Medicine at Makerere University in Uganda.  That is excitement—we have already had a significant impact and we have plans to do much more.

In short, I listened for and followed the inspirations that came to me, and day by day, year by year, I started to find the big and small ways that I could make a difference. And I believe you and your clinic can too. So please, look us up at www.Docs4GreatApes.org; learn more; understand, care, and find out how you can contribute.  Those that know me in the College will not be surprised that my recently launched book, Just Like Us, is not a ground breaking comprehensive treatise on all things ophthalmological—however, I do hope they will be surprised at what I have captured and portrayed through a different lens.  100% of the proceeds from the book support the scholarships.  And of course, there’s Jane Goodall’s foreword.

Take care,

R.F. Quinn DVM, DVSc, Diplomate ACVO
Veterinary Eye Specialists, London, ON, Canada
Founding Director, Docs4GreatApes
Adjunct Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Western University
Director, the Jane Goodall Institute (Canada)
Director, the Jane Goodall Institute (Global)