FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 9, 2021

CONTACT:    
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
Public Relations
619-685-3291

WEBSITE:     
sdzwa.org

CONTACT:    
Kenya Wildlife Service
Public Relations
+254722304779

WEBSITE:     
kws.go.ke

NEWS RELEASE

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Strengthens Ties with San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance in Wildlife Conservation

SAN DIEGO (Dec. 9, 2021) – San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance welcomed delegates from Kenya’s Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, Kenya Wildlife Service, and the Wildlife Training Research Institute, to the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park, as the international nonprofit conservation organization seeks to strengthen its ongoing collaboration with Kenya’s leading wildlife conserver.

The delegation was led by the Principal Secretary Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife Prof. Fred Segor, Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), Director General Brigadier (Rtd.) John Waweru, and Dr. Patrick Omondi, CEO of the Wildlife Research and Training Institute.

The culmination of the visit was the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and Kenya Wildlife Service, the governmental agency tasked with conserving and managing Kenyan wildlife. The MOU establishes the foundation for how both parties can collaborate in the areas of conservation science, wildlife health, care and welfare, and a host of other endeavors. Both San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and Kenya Wildlife Service pledged to collaborate on conservation initiatives, including human-wildlife coexistence, sustainable wildlife population management, and community engagement. The MOU further established mechanisms for extending education and outreach initiatives and exchange of technical expertise.

“We are thrilled and honored to welcome our distinguished guests and have this time together as we commit to working together more in support of our shared missions in protecting wildlife,” said Paul A. Baribault, President and Chief Executive Officer of San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. “At the core of our belief is the imperative that we must be strong partners and collaborators with leading conservation organizations such as Kenya Wildlife Service. This MOU helps us move forward in the work we must do to ensure a world where wildlife thrives.”

Kenya Wildlife Service has been a vital steward for wildlife conservation in the region. The agency oversees the management of national parks, wildlife conservation areas and numerous sanctuaries under its jurisdiction, including providing security for wildlife and visitors, and enforcing the country’s environmental laws and regulations. They collaborate with a multitude of international conservation partners to protect and sustainably manage wildlife resources. KWS also builds community programs that encourage biodiversity, conservation and coexistence with communities that live on land that is essential to the thriving wildlife populations.

Prof. Fred Segor the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, appreciated the ongoing partnership between KWS and SDWZA and noted that the signing of the MOU opens up the field for great opportunities of mutual benefit between the two organizations that would result in improved wildlife care in and around their prestigious national parks and enhancing the visitor experience.

The Director General KWS Brig. Waweru said “We are excited to be partnering with SDWZA. This aligns with the KWS Strategic Plan that identifies three pillars of Conservation, Collaboration and Enterprise. The partnership will have a huge impact on conservation as it’s geared to providing practical solutions in the identified areas to conservation challenges”.           

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance has worked extensively with Kenya Wildlife Service on many projects, including, human-wildlife coexistence, monitoring giraffe populations and use of the landscape, studies on elephant behavioral ecology and community engagement initiatives. Through these and other important collaborative efforts, the Alliance acknowledges a shared goal with Kenya to protect wildlife species where they live.  

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About San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is a nonprofit international conservation leader, committed to inspiring a passion for nature and creating a world where all life thrives. The Alliance empowers people from around the globe to support their mission to conserve wildlife through innovation and partnerships. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance supports cutting-edge conservation and brings the stories of their work back to the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park—giving millions of guests, in person and virtually, the opportunity to experience conservation in action. The work of San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance extends from San Diego to strategic and regional conservation “hubs” across the globe, where their strengths—via their “Conservation Toolbox,” including the renowned Wildlife Biodiversity Bank—are able to effectively align with hundreds of regional partners to improve outcomes for wildlife in more coordinated efforts. By leveraging these tools in wildlife care and conservation science, and through collaboration with hundreds of partners, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance has reintroduced more than 44 endangered species to native habitats. Each year, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s work reaches over 1 billion people in 150 countries via news media, social media, their websites, educational resources and the San Diego Zoo Kids channel, which is in children’s hospitals in 13 countries. Success is made possible by the support of members, donors and guests to the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park, who are Wildlife Allies committed to ensuring All Life Thrives. 

About Kenya Wildlife Service

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) is a government agency with the mandate to conserve and manage wildlife in Kenya, and to enforce related laws and regulations. KWS undertakes conservation and sustainable management of wildlife resources across all protected areas’ systems in collaboration with stakeholders.