Chinese nationals back efforts on wildlife conservation

@steveumidha

More than 300 Chinese nationals residing in Kenya took part in the Wildlife Conservation Color Run (‘Wild Run’) held in Ngong Road Forest – representing the first time in Africa that such large numbers of Chinese nationals gathered to support wildlife conservation.

Over 500 people attended took part in the fete’ that was co-organized by Humane Society International (HSI), China House, Stand Up Shout Out (SUSO) and the Africa Network for Animal Welfare (ANAW), the Wild Run as well as several Chinese enterprises, namely; HUAWEI, TECNO, AVIC International and CCTV.

The event was conceived as a model for how Kenyans and Chinese can work together to combat wildlife conservation.

It is the first color run in East Africa aimed at raising awareness of wildlife conservation among both local and expatriate communities.

“I am fortunate that my children have seen elephants in the wild. Our challenge is to make sure your children and grandchildren have this opportunity,” he boomed to a crowd of hundreds of international and local onlookers. “Our biggest challenge is to spread the message: ivory is only valuable on the elephant,” said Kitili Mbathi, the Director General of the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) during the launch.

Trish Sewe, the Communication Manager of Wildlife Direct expressed optimism about the impact, “if China and Africa work together”. She noted, however, in her address during the launch ceremony: “I have no illusion that this is going to be easy.”

“The first step is friendship. The second step is creating a forever for our wildlife,” explained Peter Moll, the founder of Stand Up Shout Out, to the mixed crowd.

In his speech, Hongxiang Huang, the founder of China House, recalled: “I still remember when I went to conservation events, I saw no Chinese. And yet people were discussing China-related issues: ivory, elephants.

But how could you not engage Chinese people if you believe they are part of the problem? How could you not engage the large majority of Chinese people who are against the illegal trade in such a difficult and global fight?

I thought this could be improved, and it should be improved, and Chinese should become part of the wildlife conservation solutions,” read his speech in part.

Participants pledged to boycott the ivory trade and indicating support for the African Elephant Coalition (AEC)’s package of CITES proposals when the convention meets next month in South Africa. In this critical event, countries will renew and expand their commitment to regulate the trade in wildlife products that has decimated Africa’s elephants and rhinos, among others animals.

Participants sported white “Wild Run” t-shirts, and raced along a scenic 5-kilometer course through Ngong Road Forest, as volunteers tossed colorful dyes on passing runners. After running Kenyans and Chinese, caked in yellow, blue, green and orange powder, mingled, ate shawarma and danced.