Elephant conservation has received a major boost with the appointment of American actor, filmmaker, and producer Edward Norton as the Magical Kenya Tembo Naming Festival ambassador.
Edward Norton who is a star in prominent movies will help raise the profile of the festival an annual activity to support the conservation of elephants in the country.
Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife Najib Balala while announcing the appointment said that Edward Norton’s global appeal and passion towards the protection of nature and species will take the conservation efforts to the next level.
“We have chosen to work with Edward because he has a passion for conservation and biodiversity and his social status will help us to realize our goals in raising awareness and solving the problems that face our wildlife. His interests extend to areas that include habitat loss, deforestation, species extinction, and the need for sustainable consumption patterns among people in industrialized countries. These are critical elements in conservation which are important to us,” said the CS.
He added that the tourism sector will leverage Edward Norton’s global appeal to raise awareness about the festival to the international audience.
Edwards in 2010, was appointed first Goodwill Ambassador for Biodiversity by the United Nations Secretary-General, a role which is meant to help improve people’s understanding of biodiversity and its importance to human wellbeing.
The CS said his appointment will elevate the level of support for the Magical Kenya Tembo Naming Festival which was launched in 2021, a fundraising initiative that allows individuals and organizations to adopt and name an elephant after contributing to conservation efforts.
The Inaugural Festival which was held in October of 21 saw a total of Sh16.5 million raised from individuals and corporates in the country. The Ministry of Tourism and wildlife targets to raise Sh100 million within the financial year 2021-2022.
Edward Norton said “It is an honor to be named the Magical Kenya Tembo Naming Festival Ambassador which is an initiative geared towards the protection of the elephants.
“I am passionate about conservation and the preservation of our environment which includes nature and wildlife as we know it. It is therefore encouraging to see such initiatives aimed at boosting the protection and conservation of species like the else” he said.
Norton added “Kenya is a shining example of integration in the way life should be, we must be able to address sustainability within the context of human activity in the world, Kenya has led the way in showing this. A huge need for tourism in Kenya is the need for people to come and see which they don’t have in their countries”
In 2021, the Ministry of Tourism and wildlife through the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) conducted the first ever first-ever wildlife census geared towards understanding the number of wildlife resources in the country. Through the census, it was established that Kenya is home to a total of 36,280 elephants, representing a 21 percent growth from 2014 when poaching was at its peak. This increase has been thanks to the sustained government crackdown on poaching and the illegal ivory trade.
The Kenya Tourism Board CEO Dr betty Radier said; “Today, conservation is an important element, it is encouraging to see that more tourist destinations have embraced the concept of sustainable tourism and are now implementing various initiatives in this regard. The aim is to promote sustainable tourism and find a balance between communities, travelers, and conservation to ensure that we sustain the wild for as long as possible. “Said Dr. Radier
She added that the appointment of Edward Norton would be important in setting in motion the conversation around the conservation of wildlife and natural resources in Kenya and across Africa.
