History
WildlifeDirect (previously the Africa Conservation Fund) was founded in 2004 by the prominent Kenyan conservationist and paleoanthropologist, Dr. Richard Leakey, and former World Bank Representative to Kenya, Harold Wackman. WildlifeDirect was initially conceived as an online platform to provide a voice to African conservationists to protect wildlife as an important global heritage. By publishing their blogs, the aim was to raise awareness and funds for individuals and organizations on the frontlines in otherwise ignored conservation areas.
In the early years, WildlifeDirect highlighted the plight of gorillas in Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, successfully campaigned to ban the pesticide Furudan that was being used to poison lions in Kenya, and supported the Mara Conservancy following the collapse in tourism revenues as a result of the post-election violence in 2007.
In 2012, in response to the poaching crisis affecting the elephant population, WildlifeDirect redirected its focus to elephant protection. The following year, WildlifeDirect launched its flagship campaign, Hands Off Our Elephants, under the patronage of the First Lady of Kenya, Her Excellency Margaret Kenyatta. For the first time in history, a First Lady of Africa adopted a conservation campaign. Over the past few years, the campaign has been widely recognized for its singular successes in advocacy and generating unprecedented local support for wildlife conservation never before witnessed in Kenya.
2004 – 2007
2004
WildlifeDirect was founded by Dr. Richard Leakey and Harold Wackman initially as an internet platform to give voice to African conservationists.
2007
WildlifeDirect brought to world attention the brutal massacre of gorillas in the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
2008
2008
Following WildlifeDirect’s campaign to end poisoning of lions with the pesticide Furadan, it was removed from Kenyan shelves.
2008
WildlifeDirect raises more than $150,000 to support the work of the Mara Conservancy following the collapse in tourism revenues during the violence that followed the disputed December 2007 presidential elections results.
2008
WildlifeDirect was the 2008 recipient of Mongabay’s Innovation in Conservation award, recognized for an unconventional and highly effective approach to conserving forests and biodiversity.
2013
2013
Launch of Hands Off Our Elephants campaign, under the patronage of the First Lady of Kenya, Her Excellency Margaret Kenyatta.
2013
WildlifeDirect’s publication of wildlife crimes triggered intensive national and international lobbying, leading to the new Wildlife Conservation and Management Act.
2014
2014
WildlifeDirect’s CEO, Paula Kahumbu, is presented the prestigious Whitley Award in honour of her work and leadership to address Kenya’s poaching crisis.
2014
Following intense lobbying and a media campaign led by WildlifeDirect, suspected ivory kingpin Feisal Mohamed Ali is arrested and brought to trial in Kenya.
2015
2015
WildlifeDirect works with Maasai women in Amboseli to form the Oltome-Nadupo Women’s Company to develop livelihood strategies that are compatible with the sustainable use of natural resources and help reduce human–wildlife conflict.
2016
2016
Launch of NTV Wild, a twice-weekly program of films and discussions, highlighting wildlife issues on prime-time TV in Kenya.
2017
2017
Targeting children to help save elephants. WildlifeDirect is focusing on school children in the Amboseli area, home to one of the most important elephant populations in Africa, to ensure that children get enough to eat that their education is not interrupted. We teamed up with the Enkijape Primary School Board of Governors and Insta Products to feed 752 students with a high protein porridge at lunch time.
2017
WildlifeDirect partners with Amarula Trust to raise global awareness about elephant poaching.
2018
2018
Wildlife Warriors kids off across the country. The Wildlife Warriors program introduces Kenyan children to endangered wildlife through a nationwide program targeting public primary schools by engaging students in experiential school based activities, conducting citizen science in field and camping and producing printed, digital and audio visual educational materials to make them proud of Kenya’s heritage and contributing towards saving it.
2018
WildlifeDirect launches a new report showcasing the state of wildlife crime cases in Kenya. This report gave an analysis of the wildlife crime cases between 2016 and 2017 and measures the effectiveness of the Wildlife Conservation & Management Act (WCMA) while highlighting strengths and weakness of the criminal justice system. It also embodies the analyses of 957 wildlife crime court cases collected in 2016 and 2017 from 121 courts in Kenya relating to 1,958 accused persons.
2019
2019
WildlifeDirect launches New TV Series, celebrating African conservation heroes, Wildlife Warriors. The development of this series was funded by the U.S. Government, through USAID, in partnership with U.S. Department of the Interior, Wild Lives Foundation, and National Geographic.
2020
2020
WildlifeDirect launches a weekly online newsletter for children dubbed the Wildlife Warriors Kids Newsletter. The newsletter is distributed online via wildlifedirect.org, emails, SMS, WhatsApp and gained 192 subscribers from around the world within the first few months and published 32 editions during the year. The newsletter is designed to bring content on wildlife and nature in the most child friendly manner. It is available for all children everywhere and they can connect with each other, join the Wildlife Warriors movement, learn from experts, watch wildlife films on local TV channels in Kenya, submit stories, drawings and film reviews, and even share their practical tips for activities they are doing at home to protect nature.
2021
2021
The Walt Disney Company, WildlifeDirect, The U.S. Department Of State, and the U.S. Agency for International Development join forces to develop and launch National Geographic Kids Educational Entertainment programme in Africa.
2022
2022
WildlifeDirect launches Season two of the Wildlife Warriors television series at the Karen Blixen Coffee Gardens. The 13 part series premiered on Kenyan television screens via Citizen TV on 6th February 2022 at 5.30 p.m. EAT. Season two of Wildlife Warriors is featuring more than 20 heroines and heroes.
