We just wrapped up the latest Wildlife Conservation Expo, an unforgettable event bringing together wildlife advocates with field conservationists from around the world to celebrate the incredible work that our Conservation Partners and Wildlife Funds do to ensure that wildlife and people can coexist and thrive.
If you were unable to attend this spring’s Expo, or if you’d love to relive or share some of the most remarkable moments with others, then you’re in the right place!
- This spring’s Expo was particularly special for two reasons—first, it coincided with Earth Day, but more importantly, this was the first large-scale, in-person Expo that we’ve held since the COVID-19 pandemic emerged in 2020. We can’t begin to convey how excited and grateful we were to reunite with so many long-time WCN supporters and to meet so many new faces all dedicated to protecting wildlife. The conservationists were thrilled to reconnect with you as well, and fostering these personal connections between conservationists and donors is what Expo is all about.
- Araluen “Azza” Schunmann, Director of the Pangolin Crisis Fund, led a special presentation focusing on how conservationists respond to and fight against the illegal wildlife trade. Joining her were conservationists from Macaw Recovery Network, Proyecto Tití, and Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Association, who all shed light on the intricacies of the illegal trade of wildlife as pets, and how community engagement, education, collaboration with authorities have helped them curb this harmful practice.
- We were honored to host some fascinating guest speakers from Misool Foundation and Tiger Research and Conservation Trust (TRACT), who gave presentations about their work protecting Indonesia’s coral reefs and India’s tigers, respectively. Misool Foundation illuminated us with stories about the colorful, diverse world beneath the waves and how they are helping rebuild damaged coral reefs. TRACT detailed how their data collection is tracking tigers around Central India and how their outreach initiatives are teaching communities how to respond to, avoid, and survive encounters with these big cats.
- The biggest highlight for us was spending time with you—our wonderful supporters! Expo wouldn’t have been the same without such a strong showing from our amazing community. For over 20 years, you have helped WCN protect our planet’s wildlife and improve its landscapes for animals and people. Expo isn’t just a time to reflect on all that we’ve achieved together, it’s a time to celebrate you for giving us the opportunity to make such a positive difference. We hope you had an incredible time with the conservationists and each other, because bringing people together to share our passion for wildlife is what WCN does best.
If you missed any Expo presentations or want to rewatch some of your favorites, you can find all of them here.
Thank you for helping us bring in-person Expos back with a bang and continuing to support WCN’s mission to create a brighter, safer future for wildlife. We’ll see you this October at the next Expo!