Climate Solutions: Wildlife Conservation

October 6th, 2021

On 22nd September, renowned primatologist and environmental activist Dr Jane Goodall, and our CEO, Dr Paula Kahumbu, discussed how wildlife conservation is a solution to the climate crisis during an interview with The Washington Post Live hosted by Libby Casey. “The main message is every single individual, every one of us…, we make some impact on the planet every single day, and we get to choose what sort of impact we make, what we buy, what we wear, where did it come from, how was it made, did it harm the environment, was it cruel to animals…,” said Dr Goodall.

Dr Kahumbu discussed the impacts of climate change on African wildlife exacerbated by unsustainable land-use patterns and the role of national and global leadership in addressing environmental problems. She also highlighted the significance of filmmaking and storytelling in shaping attitudes towards wildlife conservation and inspiring a global environmental movement of action.

“You’d be surprised to hear that although Africa has been the source of hundreds of documentaries made every year on our wildlife…, those films made in Africa about our iconic animals are not really seen here in Africa. …to really catalyze an environmental movement in this continent, I decided to just start making my own wildlife documentaries,” said Dr Kahumbu.

You can watch The Washington Post Live interview here or read the full transcript here.

We send our heartfelt gratitude to Ken and Angela Wade who donated to WildlifeDirect in memory of their daughter, Angharad after watching Dr Kahumbu speak on BBC HARDTalk last month, “I was very impressed with the achievements to date of the organisation and in particular, the campaigns to protect the National Parks in Kenya, the community and outreach programmes to develop the young “Wildlife Warriors” and the filmmaking too,” said Ken Wade.