I come from Africa and I’m really proud to be an African who is saving African
to be an African who is saving African
to be an African who is saving African species there are many many
species there are many many
species there are many many preconceptions that people have about
preconceptions that people have about
preconceptions that people have about Africa it is a poor continent it’s a
Africa it is a poor continent it’s a
Africa it is a poor continent it’s a continent of poverty is a continent of
continent of poverty is a continent of
continent of poverty is a continent of starving people it’s a continent of
starving people it’s a continent of
starving people it’s a continent of dictators and Wars and lots of terrible
dictators and Wars and lots of terrible
dictators and Wars and lots of terrible diseases like HIV and malaria but I hope
diseases like HIV and malaria but I hope
diseases like HIV and malaria but I hope that by the end of this talk you’ll
that by the end of this talk you’ll
that by the end of this talk you’ll start to reimagine the potential in
start to reimagine the potential in
start to reimagine the potential in Africa and the opportunities one of the
Africa and the opportunities one of the
Africa and the opportunities one of the most infuriating statements I ever heard
most infuriating statements I ever heard
most infuriating statements I ever heard came from one of Africa’s worst
came from one of Africa’s worst
came from one of Africa’s worst dictators President Robert Mugabe and I
dictators President Robert Mugabe and I
dictators President Robert Mugabe and I was at a conference in Harare Zimbabwe
was at a conference in Harare Zimbabwe
was at a conference in Harare Zimbabwe and he was opening the Convention on the
and he was opening the Convention on the
and he was opening the Convention on the international trade in endangered
international trade in endangered
international trade in endangered species sightings and we were having a
species sightings and we were having a
species sightings and we were having a fierce debate about whether to reopen
fierce debate about whether to reopen
fierce debate about whether to reopen the trade in ivory and President Mugabe
the trade in ivory and President Mugabe
the trade in ivory and President Mugabe in his opening statement said either you
in his opening statement said either you
in his opening statement said either you use it or you lose it this is a really
use it or you lose it this is a really
use it or you lose it this is a really scary statement that a lot of leaders
scary statement that a lot of leaders
scary statement that a lot of leaders across the world in the conservation
across the world in the conservation
across the world in the conservation world as well have this idea that unless
world as well have this idea that unless
world as well have this idea that unless wildlife biodiversity nature can be
wildlife biodiversity nature can be
wildlife biodiversity nature can be turned into dollars it’s not worth
turned into dollars it’s not worth
turned into dollars it’s not worth keeping and that just seems really
keeping and that just seems really
keeping and that just seems really ridiculous to me why are we commodifying
ridiculous to me why are we commodifying
ridiculous to me why are we commodifying nature we don’t do it with historical
nature we don’t do it with historical
nature we don’t do it with historical monuments we don’t say well actually
monuments we don’t say well actually
monuments we don’t say well actually that would make a much better parking
that would make a much better parking
that would make a much better parking lots we could make more money from it
lots we could make more money from it
lots we could make more money from it you know we don’t do that with works of
you know we don’t do that with works of
you know we don’t do that with works of art we don’t know with any human
art we don’t know with any human
art we don’t know with any human creation actually if you think about it
creation actually if you think about it
creation actually if you think about it why do we put nature’s creation
why do we put nature’s creation
why do we put nature’s creation you know it’s either/or if it makes more
you know it’s either/or if it makes more
you know it’s either/or if it makes more money you know let’s convert it my
money you know let’s convert it my
money you know let’s convert it my introduction to conservation was at a
introduction to conservation was at a
introduction to conservation was at a very young age I left high school and I
very young age I left high school and I
very young age I left high school and I was completely intoxicated by a book I
was completely intoxicated by a book I
was completely intoxicated by a book I read by dr. Iain douglas-hamilton it was
read by dr. Iain douglas-hamilton it was
read by dr. Iain douglas-hamilton it was called living with elephants I don’t
called living with elephants I don’t
called living with elephants I don’t know if any of you have read it but it’s
know if any of you have read it but it’s
know if any of you have read it but it’s an extraordinary book about a man who
an extraordinary book about a man who
an extraordinary book about a man who came to Africa lived with a herd of
came to Africa lived with a herd of
came to Africa lived with a herd of elephants in
elephants in
elephants in and actually got to know them as
and actually got to know them as
and actually got to know them as individuals what we know about elephants
individuals what we know about elephants
individuals what we know about elephants today you know it’s incredible they are
today you know it’s incredible they are
today you know it’s incredible they are like people they live in families the
like people they live in families the
like people they live in families the matriarch the mothers take care of them
matriarch the mothers take care of them
matriarch the mothers take care of them the children play and they learn from
the children play and they learn from
the children play and they learn from their mothers the aunts and the sisters
their mothers the aunts and the sisters
their mothers the aunts and the sisters take care of all the young they’re just
take care of all the young they’re just
take care of all the young they’re just like humans it’s easy to fall in love
like humans it’s easy to fall in love
like humans it’s easy to fall in love with elephants but Ian hired me not to
with elephants but Ian hired me not to
with elephants but Ian hired me not to go to manyara and not to do research on
go to manyara and not to do research on
go to manyara and not to do research on these wonderful living beasts but to
these wonderful living beasts but to
these wonderful living beasts but to measure Kenya’s ivory stockpile in 1989
measure Kenya’s ivory stockpile in 1989
measure Kenya’s ivory stockpile in 1989 Kenya had 12 tons of ivory sitting in a
Kenya had 12 tons of ivory sitting in a
Kenya had 12 tons of ivory sitting in a stockpile and we measured every single
stockpile and we measured every single
stockpile and we measured every single tusk we measured the length on the outer
tusk we measured the length on the outer
tusk we measured the length on the outer edge the inner edge the depth of the
edge the inner edge the depth of the
edge the inner edge the depth of the tusks and the circumference and that
tusks and the circumference and that
tusks and the circumference and that information told us about the age of the
information told us about the age of the
information told us about the age of the elephants that were killed and also
elephants that were killed and also
elephants that were killed and also whether they were males or females that
whether they were males or females that
whether they were males or females that introduction really depressed me it was
introduction really depressed me it was
introduction really depressed me it was actually very traumatic because what we
actually very traumatic because what we
actually very traumatic because what we discovered was that over the previous 15
discovered was that over the previous 15
discovered was that over the previous 15 years poachers were killing increasingly
years poachers were killing increasingly
years poachers were killing increasingly younger elephants every year because
younger elephants every year because
younger elephants every year because they’d taken off all the old guys they
they’d taken off all the old guys they
they’d taken off all the old guys they were killing baby elephants they were
were killing baby elephants they were
were killing baby elephants they were killing elephants that hadn’t even
killing elephants that hadn’t even
killing elephants that hadn’t even reached adolescence and as a young
reached adolescence and as a young
reached adolescence and as a young conservationist or somebody who wanted
conservationist or somebody who wanted
conservationist or somebody who wanted to go into conservation I just thought
to go into conservation I just thought
to go into conservation I just thought you know there is no hope forget it
you know there is no hope forget it
you know there is no hope forget it these animals are going to be extinct in
these animals are going to be extinct in
these animals are going to be extinct in just a few years time and then something
just a few years time and then something
just a few years time and then something extraordinary happened the president of
extraordinary happened the president of
extraordinary happened the president of Kenya who was being urged to sell
Kenya who was being urged to sell
Kenya who was being urged to sell Kenya’s ivory on the international
Kenya’s ivory on the international
Kenya’s ivory on the international markets to people far away in China who
markets to people far away in China who
markets to people far away in China who want to have trinkets made of this
want to have trinkets made of this
want to have trinkets made of this wonderful substance made of elephants
wonderful substance made of elephants
wonderful substance made of elephants teeth and he said no we’re not going to
teeth and he said no we’re not going to
teeth and he said no we’re not going to put our ivory on the market that is
put our ivory on the market that is
put our ivory on the market that is what’s killing our elephants we’re going
what’s killing our elephants we’re going
what’s killing our elephants we’re going to burn it we’re going to make a
to burn it we’re going to make a
to burn it we’re going to make a statement to the world in this really
statement to the world in this really
statement to the world in this really audacious statement we’re 12 tons of
audacious statement we’re 12 tons of
audacious statement we’re 12 tons of ivory worth many millions of dollars was
ivory worth many millions of dollars was
ivory worth many millions of dollars was set alight and there was my research it
set alight and there was my research it
set alight and there was my research it all went up in smoke
but it was an extraordinary moment for
but it was an extraordinary moment for me to realize that actually if we’re
me to realize that actually if we’re
me to realize that actually if we’re going to do conservation in Africa we
going to do conservation in Africa we
going to do conservation in Africa we have to be audacious we’ve got to be
have to be audacious we’ve got to be
have to be audacious we’ve got to be courageous and we’ve got to think big
courageous and we’ve got to think big
courageous and we’ve got to think big the statement that Kenya made by burning
the statement that Kenya made by burning
the statement that Kenya made by burning that I real ed to a total ban on
that I real ed to a total ban on
that I real ed to a total ban on international trade in ivory and that
international trade in ivory and that
international trade in ivory and that lasted for quite a while but very
lasted for quite a while but very
lasted for quite a while but very recently the trade in ivory has actually
recently the trade in ivory has actually
recently the trade in ivory has actually been reopened partially a few countries
been reopened partially a few countries
been reopened partially a few countries in southern Africa have been allowed to
in southern Africa have been allowed to
in southern Africa have been allowed to put their ivory back on the
put their ivory back on the
put their ivory back on the international markets bought by China
international markets bought by China
international markets bought by China and Japan which of course all that has
and Japan which of course all that has
and Japan which of course all that has done is exactly what we predicted
done is exactly what we predicted
done is exactly what we predicted elephants are again in danger because
elephants are again in danger because
elephants are again in danger because the illegal trade has started up because
the illegal trade has started up because
the illegal trade has started up because we basically have fed the demand for
we basically have fed the demand for
we basically have fed the demand for ivory in China
ivory in China
ivory in China well there are 1.6 million people in
well there are 1.6 million people in
well there are 1.6 million people in China who would love to have a piece of
China who would love to have a piece of
China who would love to have a piece of ivory you can’t feed that demand from
ivory you can’t feed that demand from
ivory you can’t feed that demand from all the elephants in Africa and Asia
all the elephants in Africa and Asia
all the elephants in Africa and Asia there’s just no way just two weeks ago I
there’s just no way just two weeks ago I
there’s just no way just two weeks ago I was in a place called Galano
was in a place called Galano
was in a place called Galano just next to the famous Szabo National
just next to the famous Szabo National
just next to the famous Szabo National Park where this elephant his name is
Park where this elephant his name is
Park where this elephant his name is Akili was shot by a poacher there were
Akili was shot by a poacher there were
Akili was shot by a poacher there were three elephants together poachers shot
three elephants together poachers shot
three elephants together poachers shot them to get at their ivory two of them
them to get at their ivory two of them
them to get at their ivory two of them died but I clearly was injured a bullet
died but I clearly was injured a bullet
died but I clearly was injured a bullet went right through his body from one
went right through his body from one
went right through his body from one side and out the other and when we saw
side and out the other and when we saw
side and out the other and when we saw this elephant he was actually wondering
this elephant he was actually wondering
this elephant he was actually wondering about an extreme pain it was just pure
about an extreme pain it was just pure
about an extreme pain it was just pure luck that we were there I called the
luck that we were there I called the
luck that we were there I called the head of the Kenya Wildlife Service who
head of the Kenya Wildlife Service who
head of the Kenya Wildlife Service who sent an aircraft with a veterinarian
sent an aircraft with a veterinarian
sent an aircraft with a veterinarian who’s standing there on the right the
who’s standing there on the right the
who’s standing there on the right the veterinarian darted this wonderful
veterinarian darted this wonderful
veterinarian darted this wonderful elephant treated his wound and revived
elephant treated his wound and revived
elephant treated his wound and revived him and akela is fine today
him and akela is fine today
him and akela is fine today but the cost of that operation is
but the cost of that operation is
but the cost of that operation is several thousand dollars getting that
several thousand dollars getting that
several thousand dollars getting that aircraft getting that vet out there it
aircraft getting that vet out there it
aircraft getting that vet out there it was a weekend treating him having all
was a weekend treating him having all
was a weekend treating him having all the ranges around to protect the place
the ranges around to protect the place
the ranges around to protect the place and then to patrol and try and protect
and then to patrol and try and protect
and then to patrol and try and protect these elephants and the cost of
these elephants and the cost of
these elephants and the cost of conservation in Africa is something that
conservation in Africa is something that
conservation in Africa is something that is really not appreciated
is really not appreciated
is really not appreciated you know Kenya can make as many
you know Kenya can make as many
you know Kenya can make as many statements as it wants and it can have
statements as it wants and it can have
statements as it wants and it can have all the goodwill it once but actually
all the goodwill it once but actually
all the goodwill it once but actually financing conservation is very difficult
financing conservation is very difficult
financing conservation is very difficult especially given the fact that most of
especially given the fact that most of
especially given the fact that most of the wildlife in Kenya is not in
the wildlife in Kenya is not in
the wildlife in Kenya is not in protected areas and protected areas is
protected areas and protected areas is
protected areas and protected areas is where tourists go that’s where the
where tourists go that’s where the
where tourists go that’s where the country generates revenue for
country generates revenue for
country generates revenue for conservation but 70% of the wildlife in
conservation but 70% of the wildlife in
conservation but 70% of the wildlife in Kenya doesn’t actually live inside
Kenya doesn’t actually live inside
Kenya doesn’t actually live inside national parks that means that if we’re
national parks that means that if we’re
national parks that means that if we’re going to save
going to save
going to save life not just in Kenya across Africa
life not just in Kenya across Africa
life not just in Kenya across Africa Africa the last continent with megafauna
Africa the last continent with megafauna
Africa the last continent with megafauna like elephants rhinos lions and giraffes
like elephants rhinos lions and giraffes
like elephants rhinos lions and giraffes we’re gonna have to work with landowners
we’re gonna have to work with landowners
we’re gonna have to work with landowners not just government but landowners and
not just government but landowners and
not just government but landowners and people who live on the landscape with
people who live on the landscape with
people who live on the landscape with this wildlife and that’s why it’s so
this wildlife and that’s why it’s so
this wildlife and that’s why it’s so important to find solutions to living
important to find solutions to living
important to find solutions to living with nature I do my work through several
with nature I do my work through several
with nature I do my work through several organizations and I just want to show
organizations and I just want to show
organizations and I just want to show you quickly what what they are wildlife
you quickly what what they are wildlife
you quickly what what they are wildlife direct is a blogging platform it allows
direct is a blogging platform it allows
direct is a blogging platform it allows conservationists anywhere in Africa to
conservationists anywhere in Africa to
conservationists anywhere in Africa to tell their stories from the field and
tell their stories from the field and
tell their stories from the field and very remote in wild places and it allows
very remote in wild places and it allows
very remote in wild places and it allows us to actually get a glimpse of what’s
us to actually get a glimpse of what’s
us to actually get a glimpse of what’s happening as it’s happening from the
happening as it’s happening from the
happening as it’s happening from the very people on the ground who can
very people on the ground who can
very people on the ground who can communicate with an audience
communicate with an audience
communicate with an audience internationally anywhere in the world
internationally anywhere in the world
internationally anywhere in the world and they can help people on the ground
and they can help people on the ground
and they can help people on the ground to actually do their work by making
to actually do their work by making
to actually do their work by making donations I also run the Kenya Land
donations I also run the Kenya Land
donations I also run the Kenya Land Conservation Trust and this is a
Conservation Trust and this is a
Conservation Trust and this is a national organization that is trying to
national organization that is trying to
national organization that is trying to secure the land that I’ve just talked
secure the land that I’ve just talked
secure the land that I’ve just talked about land outside of protected areas
about land outside of protected areas
about land outside of protected areas buffer zones while lack corridors
buffer zones while lack corridors
buffer zones while lack corridors migration areas dispersal areas and keep
migration areas dispersal areas and keep
migration areas dispersal areas and keep habitats for endangered species and who
habitats for endangered species and who
habitats for endangered species and who doesn’t love lions in this room they’re
doesn’t love lions in this room they’re
doesn’t love lions in this room they’re there I dare you to put your hand up no
there I dare you to put your hand up no
there I dare you to put your hand up no lions are Lions are yeah one of the most
lions are Lions are yeah one of the most
lions are Lions are yeah one of the most extraordinary species i mean i i’ve
extraordinary species i mean i i’ve
extraordinary species i mean i i’ve worked with elephants I’d adore
worked with elephants I’d adore
worked with elephants I’d adore elephants lions are very similar the
elephants lions are very similar the
elephants lions are very similar the only cat in the world that lives in
only cat in the world that lives in
only cat in the world that lives in families again I think there’s a human
families again I think there’s a human
families again I think there’s a human connection here that attracts me this
connection here that attracts me this
connection here that attracts me this photograph was taken just you know
photograph was taken just you know
photograph was taken just you know kilometer from my house I live on the
kilometer from my house I live on the
kilometer from my house I live on the edge of the Nairobi National Park and
edge of the Nairobi National Park and
edge of the Nairobi National Park and this is one of the most extraordinary
this is one of the most extraordinary
this is one of the most extraordinary places in the world Nairobi National
places in the world Nairobi National
places in the world Nairobi National Park is home to about 50 lions and I
Park is home to about 50 lions and I
Park is home to about 50 lions and I wake up my wake-up call is roaring of
wake up my wake-up call is roaring of
wake up my wake-up call is roaring of lions it’s just extraordinary I’m very
lions it’s just extraordinary I’m very
lions it’s just extraordinary I’m very privileged to live in a place which
privileged to live in a place which
privileged to live in a place which still has nature like that right on my
still has nature like that right on my
still has nature like that right on my doorstep and that’s why I’m so
doorstep and that’s why I’m so
doorstep and that’s why I’m so passionate about saving it but this
passionate about saving it but this
passionate about saving it but this sound the roaring of lions is not
sound the roaring of lions is not
sound the roaring of lions is not something that’s going to be around with
something that’s going to be around with
something that’s going to be around with us very long unless we do something very
us very long unless we do something very
us very long unless we do something very dramatic to save the large predators the
dramatic to save the large predators the
dramatic to save the large predators the large mammals of Africa how many of you
large mammals of Africa how many of you
large mammals of Africa how many of you have been to Nairobi fantastic wonderful
have been to Nairobi fantastic wonderful
have been to Nairobi fantastic wonderful well those of you who haven’t and even
well those of you who haven’t and even
well those of you who haven’t and even those of you who have you probably
those of you who have you probably
those of you who have you probably are aware that this is one of the most
are aware that this is one of the most
are aware that this is one of the most iconic sights of the city it’s from the
iconic sights of the city it’s from the
iconic sights of the city it’s from the National Park almost everyone I speak to
National Park almost everyone I speak to
National Park almost everyone I speak to has been to Nairobi tells me that the
has been to Nairobi tells me that the
has been to Nairobi tells me that the lasting memory they have of this city is
lasting memory they have of this city is
lasting memory they have of this city is wildlife with a backdrop of the city
wildlife with a backdrop of the city
wildlife with a backdrop of the city it’s still a wild place this is not a
it’s still a wild place this is not a
it’s still a wild place this is not a zoo it’s a hundred and seventeen square
zoo it’s a hundred and seventeen square
zoo it’s a hundred and seventeen square kilometers it’s four kilometres from the
kilometers it’s four kilometres from the
kilometers it’s four kilometres from the city centre and the northern boundary of
city centre and the northern boundary of
city centre and the northern boundary of the park is bound by the city but the
the park is bound by the city but the
the park is bound by the city but the southern boundary is open and the
southern boundary is open and the
southern boundary is open and the wildlife of this park is migratory this
wildlife of this park is migratory this
wildlife of this park is migratory this is what the park looks like it’s just on
is what the park looks like it’s just on
is what the park looks like it’s just on the southeast edge of the city this is
the southeast edge of the city this is
the southeast edge of the city this is the Purple Line is the city boundary and
the Purple Line is the city boundary and
the Purple Line is the city boundary and the National Park you know just rest
the National Park you know just rest
the National Park you know just rest right there all of this here is open
right there all of this here is open
right there all of this here is open there is no fence or barrier that
there is no fence or barrier that
there is no fence or barrier that prevents animals from moving out of the
prevents animals from moving out of the
prevents animals from moving out of the National Park well neuro B is the
National Park well neuro B is the
National Park well neuro B is the capital city of Kenya and Kenya is the
capital city of Kenya and Kenya is the
capital city of Kenya and Kenya is the regional hub of East Africa this city is
regional hub of East Africa this city is
regional hub of East Africa this city is right along the trans African highway
right along the trans African highway
right along the trans African highway that highway takes goods from the port
that highway takes goods from the port
that highway takes goods from the port of Mombasa all across East Africa and
of Mombasa all across East Africa and
of Mombasa all across East Africa and into the Congo and that means that this
into the Congo and that means that this
into the Congo and that means that this city is actually gearing itself up to be
city is actually gearing itself up to be
city is actually gearing itself up to be the major industrial and commercial hub
the major industrial and commercial hub
the major industrial and commercial hub for Tanzania Uganda Congo Rwanda Burundi
for Tanzania Uganda Congo Rwanda Burundi
for Tanzania Uganda Congo Rwanda Burundi Sudan and Somalia and Ethiopia the
Sudan and Somalia and Ethiopia the
Sudan and Somalia and Ethiopia the amount of development going on in
amount of development going on in
amount of development going on in Nairobi today is actually quite
Nairobi today is actually quite
Nairobi today is actually quite frightening it’s a city that is in a
frightening it’s a city that is in a
frightening it’s a city that is in a massive state of growth that’s financed
massive state of growth that’s financed
massive state of growth that’s financed primarily by the Chinese I’m very soon
primarily by the Chinese I’m very soon
primarily by the Chinese I’m very soon this boundary is gonna come all the way
this boundary is gonna come all the way
this boundary is gonna come all the way around here and it’s gonna attempt to
around here and it’s gonna attempt to
around here and it’s gonna attempt to come a roll rate on the bottom and my
come a roll rate on the bottom and my
come a roll rate on the bottom and my biggest concern right now is this road
biggest concern right now is this road
biggest concern right now is this road here that’s a highway to take traffic
here that’s a highway to take traffic
here that’s a highway to take traffic off the Mombasa Highway south of the
off the Mombasa Highway south of the
off the Mombasa Highway south of the city and back onto the highway up there
city and back onto the highway up there
city and back onto the highway up there and that will allow trucks and major
and that will allow trucks and major
and that will allow trucks and major commerce to traverse the country without
commerce to traverse the country without
commerce to traverse the country without having to go through the you know the
having to go through the you know the
having to go through the you know the quagmire of traffic in the middle of the
quagmire of traffic in the middle of the
quagmire of traffic in the middle of the city
city
city well this park is not just a little part
well this park is not just a little part
well this park is not just a little part that you can cut off with a highway like
that you can cut off with a highway like
that you can cut off with a highway like that that highway would prevent the
that that highway would prevent the
that that highway would prevent the movement of wildlife and this these
movement of wildlife and this these
movement of wildlife and this these lines here represent the movement of
lines here represent the movement of
lines here represent the movement of wildebeest zebra lions cheetahs impalas
wildebeest zebra lions cheetahs impalas
wildebeest zebra lions cheetahs impalas Kok
Kok
Kok artists thousands of animals move out of
artists thousands of animals move out of
artists thousands of animals move out of that National Park and into the
that National Park and into the
that National Park and into the ecosystem and all these little blocks
ecosystem and all these little blocks
ecosystem and all these little blocks down here although the land is actually
down here although the land is actually
down here although the land is actually quite open physically on the ground all
quite open physically on the ground all
quite open physically on the ground all these little blocks represent individual
these little blocks represent individual
these little blocks represent individual title owners landowners who have a piece
title owners landowners who have a piece
title owners landowners who have a piece of land most of the people who live here
of land most of the people who live here
of land most of the people who live here are pastoralists they live with nature
are pastoralists they live with nature
are pastoralists they live with nature they have wildlife in their backyard all
they have wildlife in their backyard all
they have wildlife in their backyard all the time and they graze cattle out on
the time and they graze cattle out on
the time and they graze cattle out on the plains well what’s happening around
the plains well what’s happening around
the plains well what’s happening around our OB is this massive growth we’re
our OB is this massive growth we’re
our OB is this massive growth we’re seeing factories coming up housing
seeing factories coming up housing
seeing factories coming up housing estates which are coming into that area
estates which are coming into that area
estates which are coming into that area which is where the wildlife migrates and
which is where the wildlife migrates and
which is where the wildlife migrates and one of the scariest things that’s
one of the scariest things that’s
one of the scariest things that’s happening is the city of Nairobi which
happening is the city of Nairobi which
happening is the city of Nairobi which is famed for its slums like this one is
is famed for its slums like this one is
is famed for its slums like this one is Mathari Valley the oldest slum in in the
Mathari Valley the oldest slum in in the
Mathari Valley the oldest slum in in the city of Nairobi where people who have
city of Nairobi where people who have
city of Nairobi where people who have really good intentions are trying to
really good intentions are trying to
really good intentions are trying to deal with the problem of poverty in
deal with the problem of poverty in
deal with the problem of poverty in these slums and and the congestion so
these slums and and the congestion so
these slums and and the congestion so there started this great project where
there started this great project where
there started this great project where they’re taking people out of the slum or
they’re taking people out of the slum or
they’re taking people out of the slum or putting them in places that look wild
putting them in places that look wild
putting them in places that look wild and open like that area south of the
and open like that area south of the
and open like that area south of the Nairobi National Park this is a housing
Nairobi National Park this is a housing
Nairobi National Park this is a housing estate for something like 50,000 people
estate for something like 50,000 people
estate for something like 50,000 people and conservationists tried to fight this
and conservationists tried to fight this
and conservationists tried to fight this project because it’s right in the middle
project because it’s right in the middle
project because it’s right in the middle of the dispersal area for the
of the dispersal area for the
of the dispersal area for the wildebeests and all these other species
wildebeests and all these other species
wildebeests and all these other species and so I met this lady here her name is
and so I met this lady here her name is
and so I met this lady here her name is Jane she comes from Authority she was a
Jane she comes from Authority she was a
Jane she comes from Authority she was a battered wife she has four children and
battered wife she has four children and
battered wife she has four children and she abandoned her husband because of the
she abandoned her husband because of the
she abandoned her husband because of the abuse she was receiving and she went to
abuse she was receiving and she went to
abuse she was receiving and she went to the city moved into the salami into a
the city moved into the salami into a
the city moved into the salami into a one-room which is about the size of a
one-room which is about the size of a
one-room which is about the size of a prison cell with her four children and
prison cell with her four children and
prison cell with her four children and she ended up becoming a sex worker got
she ended up becoming a sex worker got
she ended up becoming a sex worker got HIV and then she was given an
HIV and then she was given an
HIV and then she was given an opportunity to move into this housing
opportunity to move into this housing
opportunity to move into this housing estate I mean when you hear a story you
estate I mean when you hear a story you
estate I mean when you hear a story you can’t feel for her her life is
can’t feel for her her life is
can’t feel for her her life is transformed her children are in a safe
transformed her children are in a safe
transformed her children are in a safe environment but she’s right in the
environment but she’s right in the
environment but she’s right in the middle of the wildebeest migration and
middle of the wildebeest migration and
middle of the wildebeest migration and so it’s a major problem development in
so it’s a major problem development in
so it’s a major problem development in the city of in city of Nairobi is
the city of in city of Nairobi is
the city of in city of Nairobi is actually working against conservation
actually working against conservation
actually working against conservation for the rest of the people in this
for the rest of the people in this
for the rest of the people in this landscape are pastoralists Masai
landscape are pastoralists Masai
landscape are pastoralists Masai pastoralists and their lives depend on
pastoralists and their lives depend on
pastoralists and their lives depend on the ability to move through open spaces
the ability to move through open spaces
the ability to move through open spaces because they need to track the rainfall
because they need to track the rainfall
because they need to track the rainfall in the grazing because of all of the
in the grazing because of all of the
in the grazing because of all of the congestion and development
congestion and development
congestion and development in this area they’re actually losing
in this area they’re actually losing
in this area they’re actually losing space they’re degrading the landscape so
space they’re degrading the landscape so
space they’re degrading the landscape so what we’re seeing increasingly is
what we’re seeing increasingly is
what we’re seeing increasingly is desertification and when we have
desertification and when we have
desertification and when we have droughts the results are just
droughts the results are just
droughts the results are just devastating and this is a result of the
devastating and this is a result of the
devastating and this is a result of the drought the last drought that happened
drought the last drought that happened
drought the last drought that happened we lost eighty percent of the cattle in
we lost eighty percent of the cattle in
we lost eighty percent of the cattle in this area and what happens is that
this area and what happens is that
this area and what happens is that people become less tolerant of predators
people become less tolerant of predators
people become less tolerant of predators when they lose their animals when animal
when they lose their animals when animal
when they lose their animals when animal herds have become so small and lions do
herds have become so small and lions do
herds have become so small and lions do attack their livestock and what happens
attack their livestock and what happens
attack their livestock and what happens is people then decide to take action
is people then decide to take action
is people then decide to take action they spear the Lions and kill them and
they spear the Lions and kill them and
they spear the Lions and kill them and increasingly they’re using pesticides to
increasingly they’re using pesticides to
increasingly they’re using pesticides to poison them and this is just one of
poison them and this is just one of
poison them and this is just one of those illustrations Kenya has lost most
those illustrations Kenya has lost most
those illustrations Kenya has lost most of her lions we had 15,000 Lions just 20
of her lions we had 15,000 Lions just 20
of her lions we had 15,000 Lions just 20 years ago today there’s fewer than 2,000
years ago today there’s fewer than 2,000
years ago today there’s fewer than 2,000 Lions primarily because of pesticide
Lions primarily because of pesticide
Lions primarily because of pesticide poisoning so what’s the future for an
poisoning so what’s the future for an
poisoning so what’s the future for an area like this how do we balance nature
area like this how do we balance nature
area like this how do we balance nature and conservation with development what
and conservation with development what
and conservation with development what should a child growing up in this
should a child growing up in this
should a child growing up in this environment expect and what about the
environment expect and what about the
environment expect and what about the wildlife what can they expect one of the
wildlife what can they expect one of the
wildlife what can they expect one of the messages I want to make is that in order
messages I want to make is that in order
messages I want to make is that in order to protect these wild areas we don’t
to protect these wild areas we don’t
to protect these wild areas we don’t need to decide this development or
need to decide this development or
need to decide this development or conservation I really truly believe that
conservation I really truly believe that
conservation I really truly believe that it can be both what I think is that we
it can be both what I think is that we
it can be both what I think is that we really need to think big we need to be
really need to think big we need to be
really need to think big we need to be courageous we need to do things before
courageous we need to do things before
courageous we need to do things before it’s too late it’s going to take some
it’s too late it’s going to take some
it’s too late it’s going to take some really creative thinking and that’s why
really creative thinking and that’s why
really creative thinking and that’s why I’m hoping but in this audience there
I’m hoping but in this audience there
I’m hoping but in this audience there are people who have some great ideas and
are people who have some great ideas and
are people who have some great ideas and resources that we can tap into
resources that we can tap into
resources that we can tap into we need money lots and lots of money to
we need money lots and lots of money to
we need money lots and lots of money to actually put together these plans we’ve
actually put together these plans we’ve
actually put together these plans we’ve got to build structures like the Banff
got to build structures like the Banff
got to build structures like the Banff Highway in Canada so that animals can
Highway in Canada so that animals can
Highway in Canada so that animals can cross these massive highways that the
cross these massive highways that the
cross these massive highways that the government wants to put in we’ve got to
government wants to put in we’ve got to
government wants to put in we’ve got to do proper planning and we need to make
do proper planning and we need to make
do proper planning and we need to make it make sense to landowners to do
it make sense to landowners to do
it make sense to landowners to do conservation and that’s how we’re going
conservation and that’s how we’re going
conservation and that’s how we’re going to save a life in Africa thank you
”
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