WILD

Big Bend/Rio Bravo, USA-Mexico conservation success

Good things often take awhile, and are worth waiting for…

In late 2008 we were planning practical outcomes for WILD9 (the 9th World Wilderness Congress),  with The WILD Foundation and our partners trying to create better wilderness awareness in Mexico and better cooperation for wilderness in North America. Patricio Robles Gil — the great Mexican conservation photographer and artist, and our partner in creating WILD9  –  suggested to me that we visit with our colleague Juan Elvira Quesada, Mexico’s Secretary of Environment, and present to him the long-dormant plan for a transboundary park along the USA/Mexico border in the region of Big Bend (Texas) and Maderas del Carmen (Mexico).

Desert Elephants children’s book

WILD has worked to protect the unique “Desert Elephants of Mali” since 2002.  We collaborated closely with author Helen Cowcher to present this lovely children’s book that conveys the essential message of the elephants, the people, and our work in Mali.

A Bison Blog—From Yellowstone to Haarlem

In a recent, three-day period I had wild encounters of a similar sort on two continents. Both encounters tell a story of past and current “re-wilding,” enabled through the vision and dedication of people and organizations that understand the essential role of wildness in a healthy and sane planet earth.  We need these positive stories as much as we need the return of wildness that they chronicle.

The Conservation Quandary, by Ian Michler

Ian Michler, a top wildlife guide, photojournalist and naturalist, has spent the last decade documenting the major conservation challenges facing Africa. An author of 6 travel books on various African countries, his work is well known to readers of the award winning magazines, Africa Geographic and Africa Birds and Birding. Michler will be co-leading one of WILD’s latest field projects, In the Tracks of Giants; a 6 month east-to-west journey connecting major conservation nodes to promote a greater awareness of conservation, human community and leadership issues specifically relevant to southern Africa.

Buy Boyd Norton’s latest book and support WILD!

Support The WILD Foundation by purchasing renowned photographer and writer Boyd Norton’s latest book titled Serengeti: The Eternal Beginning! For every book ordered with the special code (WILD), a portion of sales will be donated to our organization.

Free WILD9 publication now available for download

WILD9 technical proceedings,  Science and Stewardship to Protect and Sustain Wilderness—9th World Wilderness Congress (Mexico, 2009) are now available for no charge by download or order form!

Cycling Silk completes their year-long journey

After ten months and roughly 10,000 km of riding along the Silk Road, Kate and Mel of Cycling Silk have reached their destination!

WILD is very pleased to support this great project that actively demonstrates our Nature Needs Half vision by showing the importance of large, interconnected  protected areas. The expedition by these two, talented young professionals focused on conducting natural resource, political, and social research on the importance of transfrontier conservation areas (TFCAs) to protecting wilderness and enhancing international peace. We look forward to the publications and other communications initiatives that they’ll now produce as a result of their pioneering expedition .

KZN launches a groundbreaking initiative: Project Rhino

Project Rhino, an initiative to stop wildlife crime in KwaZulu-Natal, was formally launched at the Hluhluwe-iMfolozo Hilltop Conference Centre this month. This collective partnership was launched by 15 leading wildlife conservation organizations, including Dr. Ian Player’s organization– The Magqubu Ntombela Foundation. Dr. Player, world-renowned wildlife conservationist and WILD’s founding father, was flown by helicopter from his home to the launch of initiative. “The Project Rhino objectives need to be a symbolic determination to ensure that all environmental protection laws and Wildlife Conservation are strictly adhered to,” said Dr Player.

CAT in WATER Update & Adovcacy

The adventurous CAT in WATER team is gearing up for their travel to see the fishing cats in Thailand.  And, as they prepare, the fishing cat’s visibility in the international conservation world continues to grow.  The latest news, as reported by Mongabay.com feature, highlights an urgent issue for the fishing cats. US food giant DOLE is cited with illegally growing bananas in the Somawathiya National Park in Sri Lanka, a known safe-haven for the fishing cat. See the satellite imagery >

WILD in Colorado—Decalibron Loop

Since I have lived in Colorado, I’ve heard more and more about how I need to go climb a 14er. When I first moved out here about a year ago, my first question was, “What is a 14er?” Well, when I found out it was a mountain that exceeds over 14,000 feet in height, I felt a little embarrassed for not realizing. But hey, coming from Pennsylvania, this was certainly not in my vocabulary. So this weekend, that’s what I did. A group of us set out and I climbed my first three 14ers.