Lupita Nyong'o Steps Up To Save Africa's Elephants
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Lupita Nyong’o Interview with Larry Madowo
Oscar-winning actor and global beauty ambassador for L’Oreal Lupita Nyong’o returned to Kenya this week as the first Kenyan ever to win an Oscar. The African beauty just wrapped up filming her latest movie ‘Queen of Katwe’ in South Africa and will debut in ‘Star Wars’ later this year. Lupita engages here in a delightful, reflective interview with Kenyan journalist Larry Madowo.
AOC loved Lupita before she won an Oscar. But to open an email from the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, where we support orphan elephants, and read that the stellar woman Lupita was there — as evidenced in this magnificent photo — brought tears to our eyes.
In addition to joining WildAid on behalf of elephants, Lupita will be promoting women’s causes, acting and the arts in her native Kenya. She also visited Amboseli National Park and filmed public service messages for international distribution in Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, China, Hong Kong, Thailand and the United States.
She also met with Kenya-based African Wildlife Foundation and Save the Elephants who partner on these projects, as well as representatives of Wildlife Direct, and Ol Pejeta and Lewa Conservancies — all groups active in combating poaching in Kenya.
Lupita Nyong’o: WildAid Global Ambassador for Elephants
A key point that Lupita makes in her comments is that a live elephant in Kenya is worth $1 million in tourism dollars. While the value of ivory from dead elephants has climbed steeply in the last decade, due to huge demand in China and continued demand in America, even though ivory is illegal.
“I am proud of my Kenyan heritage, and part of that heritage is the incredible wildlife haven that is in our care,” Ms. Nyong’o said at a Tuesday press conference in Nairobi. “I have come to realize that when you know more, you do more. I want to encourage people all over the world to learn more about these incredible animals. From reading a conservation website like WildAid.org to visiting one of the many, unforgettable, world-class national parks. I ask the world to end the current elephant poaching crisis by being ‘Ivory Free.’ It is time to ban sales of ivory worldwide and to consign the tragedy of the ivory trade to history.”
Related:The Worth of an ElephantThe New Yorker
Elephant Charities: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly Africa Geographic Magazine
