As many of you know, I am proud to serve on the board of Roar Africa, a safari-planning company founded by Deborah Calmeyer. Last week, Deborah asked if I'd be willing to moderate a webinar on a topic that is vital and relevant to this crisis, putting an end to the exploitation of wild animals. Along with Deborah, we were thrilled to speak with Peter Knights, the founder of WildAid, a nonprofit group working to end the illegal wildlife trade, “a multi-billion dollar global industry largely driven by consumer demand in expanding economies." Also joining us in the webinar is Dr. Ian McCallum, a doctor, poet and wilderness guide based in Africa. Ian is also the author of the award winning book, “Ecological Intelligence - Rediscovering Ourselves in Nature” (2005).

If there can be a bright spot in the COVID-19 pandemic, it is that China and Vietnam are finally banning the sale of wildlife for public consumption. While these new measures are a positive and welcomed development, they are only part of the solution. 

This live event was a rare opportunity to learn from prominent animal conservationists and thought leaders in Africa, as we try to understand what led us to where we are today and what changes could be made in legislation and conservation regarding wet markets, animal safety and public health. Watch the video below.

If you would like to help, there are three simple things you can do:
 
Donate. WildAid has earned four consecutive perfect 100-point scores from Charity Navigator for financial transparency and efficiency, meaning that more than 90% of your donation will go directly to their efforts to permanently shut down wildlife markets and reduce demand for their products. 
 
Keep this vital conversation going by spreading the message to your personal network and stay connected:
Follow @ROARAFRICA on Instagram and Facebook
Follow @WildAid on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook
 
Sign up for WildAid’s quarterly newsletter and stay updated on program launches and their impact. Together, we can prevent the next epidemic and save millions of animals from harm. Protect Them. Protect Us.