How Uganda Communities Are Helping Save the African Golden Cat

In Episode 2 of Worth Your Time, Dr. Rob Shumaker continues his conversation with Ugandan conservationist Mwezi “Badru” Mugerwa, the 2025 Indianapolis Prize Emerging Conservationist Award winner. Mugerwa explains why the African golden cat is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and how snare traps meant for bush meat can kill the cats as bycatch. He shares how his team works with families around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park on alternative livelihoods, plus the mobile dental clinics behind Smiles for Conservation led by his wife, Dr. Hazel Mugerwa. The episode also points listeners to embaka.org to learn more about the organization named for the cat’s local name, “embaka.”