Meet The Team: Introducing Hugo Pereira
Back in 2012, Dr Johan Marais founded Saving The Survivors with the aim to create hope from hurt and attend to injured endangered wildlife that have fallen victim to poaching or traumatic incidents. Over 8 years on, we’re proud to say Saving The Survivors has been overwhelmed with support and donations. This has allowed us to tend to the needs of many injured animals and give them a second chance at life.
It has also allowed us to expand and add more people to the STS team; both on the field and behind the scenes. Every case we encounter is unique and tests our teams’ resolve. We are very fortunate to collaborate with world-renowned clinical specialists and conservation groups. We are also very grateful for the unwavering support of the public.
We’re thrilled to announce that we have welcomed another veterinarian to join Dr Johan Marais and Dr Joao Almeida in the fight against poaching and creating hope from hurt.
Dr Hugo Pereira in his own words
Early background
My name is Hugo Pereira and I’m a 29 year old Mozambican veterinarian.
I was born and raised in Maputo and completed my studies in Veterinary Medicine at Eduardo Mondlane University in Maputo-Mozambique back in 2015.
My career actually started as a Restaurant Manager in Maputo but I was always looking for an opportunity to work in Conservation.
How I came to work in conservation
In 2016 the opportunity presented itself to me when Niassa Carnivore Project (NCP) needed a Community Liaison Officer.
It was there I ran the community development programs in Niassa National Reserve (NNR) implemented by NCP. I was also responsible for Lion collaring in Block L5-South of the NNR, managed by NCP.
One of my first tasks was going with Dr. Michael Kock and NNR’s team to every village of Niassa Reserve to do the “One Health Survey”. This is so we would have a perspective of the health situation in these villages and which health problems should be targeted and hopefully solved.
Since 2017 I also supported local government institutions in vaccination campaigns for chickens (Newcastle Disease Vaccinations). This was as a result of the “One Health Survey” where it showed that the main animal protein, other than bushmeat, being consumed in Niassa Reserve were chickens. There was a need to reduce the mortality of chickens in these local villages.
Also in 2017, I participated in the Malilangwe Wildlife Capture Course. This gave me better skills for immobilisation and capture of African Wildlife.
Working in NNR, I was also able to participate in a collaring operation of 40 Elephants in 2018 with Dr Carlos Lopes Pereira, Dr. Michael Kock and Dr. João de Almeida. I also assisted in the capture of Niassa Wildebeest and Zebras. This was for a tranlocation to Gilé Reserve in Zambezia Province with the National ANAC and “Wildlife Vets” capture team.
I am very excited to join the Saving The Survivors team! I am eager to help wildlife that have suffered from poaching or traumatic incidents.
Welcome to the team, Dr Hugo Pereira.
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