Conservation financing: World Wildlife Day 2025
World Wildlife Day, 3rd March 2025, was an opportunity to bring together varied wildlife and conservation stakeholders, as once again Vipingo Ridge was a hub for important sustainability conversations
World Wildlife Day Programme: Engaging the Community
One of the key objectives of the Vipingo Ridge conservation efforts is to promote education relating to sustainbility and preserving our environment. World Wildlife Day was a great opportunity to do this.
Amidst the golden rays of the sun and the soothing sounds of nature, the day to raise awareness of wildlife in Vipingo Ridge started with an exhilarating nature trail.
School children from the neighbouring schools in five local communities joined us. For this event we focussed on the Primary Schools with - Gongoni Primary, Vipingo Primary, Kapecha Primary, Vipingo Central and Chodari, supported by their teachers we enabled transport and all schools were able to bring school children for the event.
The schools were taken by the Vipingo Ridge Rangers around the sanctuary as a way of showing them firsthand the urgent need to protect the delicate ecosystem within which we ourselves call home. Detailed bush craft and wildlife spotting were on the agenda for their exploration.
Conservation education: Youth learning opportunities
After the walk guests enjoyed welcome drinks before the event commenced in the Sundowner officially, with the CEO Vipingo Ridge, Alex Horsey welcoming key guests and invited conservation stakeholders to the World Wildlife Day. Alex was able to engage the schools directly following his recent tour of all the local schools to engage the community in fruitful discussions on how we can support conservation and sustainability education in the region.
When enquiring on what animals the children had seen on their nature walk - they were excited to report on their first time seeing a zebra - a great moment for helping students ‘see it’ to then engage with protecting it.
A Meeting of Conservation Partners
Vipingo Ridge is always proud to be able to bring together stakeholders from a number of key partners in our shared conservation journey. Representatives from Wildlife Clubs of Kenya (WCK) were on hand to support our engagement of the next generation, offering a youth friendly angle on the intensive topic of conservation finance. Partners from Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI) were our keynote speaker who spoke about the importance of conversing wildlife everyday, being consistent in our commitment as individuals.
For this event we also invited stakeholders on the Marine projects, with the representatives from Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) coastal team, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) who focus on funding in marine and blue economy, and our partners NGO Ocean’s Alive Trust. Delegates from the partners took to the stage, with each delivering conclusive remarks on the need for proper and sustainable strategies on financing conservation efforts.
Engaing Panel discussions
The theme of the year ‘Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet’ was addressed during an active panel discussion involving delegates from Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI), Ocean’s Alive Trust and Vipingo Ridge Limited (VRL). The panelists with so much passion and concern shed light on the financial struggles that conservation organization face and also explored on which sustainable innovative funding strategies can be adopted to ensure that conservation initiatives meet their ultimate goals.
Student Engagement and Recognition
Student presentations where the young conservationists showcased their understanding of wildlife conservation through songs and poems created an engaging and heartwarming set of memories. Their presentations were not just entertaining but inspiring too, reminding everyone that conservation is not enough unless we engage the younger generation.
We had an expert panel of judges from the partners to decided the best performance, and the winners of the competition were awarded Wildlife Sanctuary branded T-shirts symbolizing their significant role as young ambassadors of our conservation efforts.
As the event was coming to its climax, guests and all other members present gathered for refreshments, networking and remarked on a fun morning of shared new experiences.
If you would like to support a future wildlife networking event, please contact events@vipingoridge.com
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