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Dear Friends, Partners and Supporters,
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In October, WildlifeDirect partnered with several organizations to hold a dialogue to discuss how to best achieve a balance between conservation and infrastructure development during construction of a major new railway, SGR phase 2A which threatens to cross the Nairobi National Park. We also introduced three women from our Imbirikani Women’s Group project to H.E. President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House, and our TV series NTV Wild was recognized during the 2016 Eco Warrior Awards for contributing to the transformation of public attitudes towards wildlife conservation. As always, we love telling you about our work and your feedback on our newsletter is welcome so please do let us know what you think by sharing it with your friends, and sending us a reply. You can also support WildlifeDirect’s work by donating here. |
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Creating space to dialogue on conservation and infrastructure development
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On October, 27, 2016, 176 participants converged at Multimedia University of Kenya and engaged a one-day discussion using the Open Space method, which was facilitated by London based firm Public Service Works. Watch the short video here. Participants of the dialogue represented a cross section of stakeholders including industrialists, landowners, community, scientists, park managers, lawyers, conservationists, park users, tourism sector, railway engineers and others. Participants engaged in 17 different meetings and conversations and they agreed that the SGR was necessary but that it should not cross the park. Detailed recommendations are contained in a final report which can be downloaded here.
We would like to thank the donors; Ford Foundation, Kenya Railways, Aga Khan University, Rex Dobie, Mpala Research Center, and Stuart Herd. We also thank Kenya Wildlife Service, Multimedia University of Kenya, and Friends of Nairobi National Park for in-kind support. We are also indebted to the 20 volunteers who assisted with managing the program.
For more about the story of railway passing through Nairobi National Park, read Paula Kahumbu’s article published on the Guardian here.
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Women from Imbirikani showcase artifacts at UNDAF event at State House
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On November 2, 2016, three representatives of the Oltome Nadupo Women Group Company had a rare chance to meet H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta at State House, Nairobi. The women who were accompanied by WildlifeDirect CEO Paula Kahumbu and Community Project Manager Robert Kaai were among the beneficiaries participating in United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) event organized by UNDP. The project is a collaboration with the First Lady’s office and UNDP.
With training through the WildlifeDirect/UNDP project, in just one year, the women have registered a company called Oltome Nadupo Women Group Company and are now operating three different business ventures; bead work, cattle brokerage business and managing a restaurant. Check out their end year report here
You can support this project by buying products from the women’s online shop, or donating here
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Jim Karani participates in Animal Law Conference in New York
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Legal Affairs Manager Jim Karani attended a 3-day Animal Law Conference at Pace University in New York held from the 7th – 9th October. The conference was a central gathering point of the global animal law community. The Animal Law Conference gives attorneys, law students, professors, and activists from around the world a platform to share ideas, knowledge, and practical skills about advancing the interests of animals through the legal system. Today, the conference has become one of the largest and most popular of its kind, featuring some of the most respected voices in the field of animal law.
The Animal Law Conference is co-presented by Animal Legal Defense Fund, the Center for Animal Law Studies at Lewis & Clark Law School, and the Lewis & Clark Student Animal Legal Defense Fund.
To support WildlifeDirect’s Education and Outreach and please donate here.
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WilidlifeDirect US hires new Executive Director in Washington DC
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WildlifeDirect says a sad goodbye to Lisa Olson, office administrator for over 10 years in Washington DC, and welcomes Kristina Lederer the incoming US Director. The DC office is located at 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Suite 304,Washington, DC 20003. Please drop in to learn more about WildlifeDirect.
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WildlifeDirect launches campaigns to save lions and elephants
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On October 16, WildlifeDirect together with National Geographic and Caffe Corsini launched the 'I Love Lions' campaign with a short movie about lions to raise funds and to support the efforts of Kenyan innovators of wildlife tools like Richard Turere.
Find out more about the campaign here.
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Amarula and WildlifeDirect have partnered to let people around the world help save elephants, through #NAMEThemSAVEThem a creative way to enlist the support of people to learn about, create and name elephants. Please go to www.amarula.com/trust and create your elephant and share it, and watch our video here
For every elephant named and shared by a unique user, Amarula will donate $1 to WildlifeDirect.
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Global March for Elephants, Rhinos and Lions
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It was a beautiful sunny Saturday on October 15, when hundreds of Kenyans, international visitors and youth from all walks of lives started streaming in at the National Museums of Kenya for the Global March for Elephants, Rhinos and Lions. The Global March is an international march that creates awareness on the threat facing the endangered animals, which are now at the brink of extinction. This year's march was flagged off by the Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry for Environment and Natural Resources Prof. Judi Wakhungu. Speaking to the press before flagging off the march, Prof. Wakhungu said, "we're matching to tell the world that we are the ones to protect our wildlife".
Draped in colorful t-shirts, banners and placards with wildlife conservation messages, the youth braved the heat as they walked for about 11km from the National Museums of Kenya to Kenya Wildlife Service headquarters where they were entertained by Dandora Music. Permanent Secretary Dr. Margaret Mwakima represented Prof. Wakhungu at the closing ceremony. She highlighted gains from Kenya's proposals submitted at the just concluded CITES conference. The event was hosted at Kenya Wildlife Service Headquarter grounds where speeches by representatives from Stand Up Shout Out, WildlifeDirect, Kenya Wildlife Service Headquarter were also read.
The message was clear: protecting and conserving wildlife is a shared responsibility for all.
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NTV Wild Television Program
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From Left: Wildlife Direct (Kenya) Board Chair Mr. Philip Murgor, NTV Wild Talk host Smriti Vydyarthi and Edwin Wanyonyi
NTV Wild Talk was on October 14, recognized at Kenya’s prestigious eco-tourism awards, the 2016 Eco Warrior Awards, for contributing to the transformation of public attitudes towards wildlife conservation.
NTV Wild Films
- Five films were aired on NTV Kenya and they included; ‘A little fish in Deep Water’ by Alan Root and four films from the Big Cat Diary series by British Broadcasting Corporation
NTV Wild Talk Shows
- All flesh is Grass Grass-expert and naturalist Dino Martins joins Smriti to share a wealth of knowledge on grass at the Nairobi National Park and why it is an important part of the ecosystem.
- Fighting for Forests: Smriti visits the spectacular Ngong road forest to find out why forests matter to our survival, the economy and our environment.
- Tracking Tim: Smriti interviews WildlifeDirect's CEO, Paula Kahumbu, to take viewers through the journey of collaring Kenya's big tusker, Tim was darted and collared in Amboseli. We see how WildlifeDirect, Kenya Wildlife Service, Save the Elephants, Big Life Foundation and Amboseli Trust for Elephant teamed up to ensure a successful operation that is critical to saving both humans and elephants.
- Wildlife Convention Outcome: Smriti asks members of the Kenyan delegation to the CITES conference how Kenya fared.
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What's Coming up in November
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Planned Activities
- Innovation Camp in Amboseli to address human wildlife conflict
- National Geographic Evening of Exploration in Nairobi
- National Geographic public film screening for Kenyan children at Brookehouse School
- Paula speaks at the Whitley Fund for Nature event titled Poaching, Pesticides and Politics: Protecting the small and the mighty on 23rd November 2016 at the Royal Geographical Society, London
How you can help
- Donate to support our Outreach and Education, Legal or Community programs
- Join WildlifeDirect as an intern or volunteer,
- Become an NTV Wild Ambassador
- Share this newsletter and invite your friends to sign up for it
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Thank you for your continued support and belief in us. To support WildlifeDirect’s work please donate here. Every penny received goes into ensuring justice for wildlife.
Sincerely,
Dr. Paula Kahumbu
CEO, WildlifeDirect
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