Fun conservation education this world giraffe day

World Giraffe Day 2024: A Memorable Celebration at Sundowner

On 21st June 2024, Vipingo Ridge, at the scenic venue of the traditional makuti structure, the Sundowner, hosted a memorable World Giraffe Day event, celebrating the worlds’ tallest creatures and raising awareness about their conservation.

The event brought together various stakeholders in conservation, wildlife enthusiasts, Vipingo Ridge Members and Homeowners, team members and students from a local Secondary School for a day of informative and engaging activities.

Please see below the highlights from the event, including a gallery from the day of all the activities.

Key notes from the Vipingo Ridge Leadership

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Alex Horsey at Vipingo Ridge Ltd delivered an inspiring opening speech, highlighting the significance of World Giraffe Day, that 21st June, the longest day of the year, symbolizes the tallest animal, giraffe, and serves to raise awareness about the threats they face and the need for conservation.

He also marked the 10th anniversary of the Giraffe Conservation Foundation's (GCF) establishment of this awareness day and highlighted the various giraffe’s species in Kenya and their alarming decline in populations over the past few decades to promote understanding of their ‘silent extinction’ and help prioritize conservation actions.

The CEO detailed the company's efforts in education, awareness programs, and partnerships with various organizations, and plans for further collaborations in breeding programs to support genetic diversity and repopulation to the wild. He called for more organizations to create space for wildlife and encouraged collective efforts to ensure a brighter future for giraffes.

Partner Engagement

Following a prayer, the formal proceedings commenced with a series of insightful speeches from the various stakeholders including the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI), Wildlife Clubs of Kenya (WCK) and the County Government, each highlighting their roles in preserving giraffes.

The event was officially opened by Hon. Clara Chonga, the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Tourism, Trade and Cooperative Development who underscored the importance of community involvement in wildlife conservation especially the young generation represented by the students of Takaungu Secondary School.

Presentation by Takaungu Secondary School

While many assumed the pinnacle of the event would be the giraffes, a student from Takaungu School, Lauren stole the show.

A real highlight of the event was a touching poem presented by a talented student, Lauren from Takaungu Secondary School. The poem, beautifully captured the essence of World Giraffe Day and began by celebrating the majestic presence of giraffes, emphasizing their grace and wisdom as they roam freely in their habitat. The poem paid tribute to Vipingo Ridge, a sanctuary dedicated to giraffe conservation, where the efforts to protect and nurture giraffes were deeply appreciated. The poem also highlighted the commitment to safeguarding giraffes, symbolizing a promise to cherish and defend their natural habitat. It concluded with a heartfelt call to protect giraffes and recognize them as treasures that bring joy and harmony to our nation and world at large.

This underscored the powerful impact of youth voices in the fight for wildlife conservation.

Active listening - Panel Discussion

The panel discussion featured various experts from partner organizations including Mr. Samuel Muriithi, Licencing Officer KWS, Dr. Omar Mohammed, Principal Scientist WRTI, Mr. Tsofa Mweni Head of WCK Coast Region, and our VR Wildlife Project Manager, Mr. Kuso Abdulla. The panelists engaged in a robust discussion on the current challenges, threats and future strategies for giraffe conservation, providing diverse perspectives and expert insights.

Quiz Session

Participants were randomly assigned to teams of five, each with a unique team name, a purposeful approach to encourage diverse interactions and ensure active participation from everyone. The quiz questions were drawn from the panel discussion and the quiz was designed to be interactive to ensure that attendees were attentive and absorbed the key information shared during the panel. The quiz not only reinforced the knowledge shared but also added an element of fun and competition to the event, encouraging active participation and deeper engagement with the important topics discussed.

Guided by our Rangers, participants had the rare opportunity to observe our 3 giraffes, Valentine, Kampoyee and Chaa at a safe distance and capture memorable moments on camera. Many of the guests had never seen a giraffe in person.

Exposure and personal experience is hugely important for future conseration. The 40 students experiencing the animal interaction is important for their future efforts to conserve this majestic animals.

Prize Giving

As the giraffe viewing happened, a team was doing the scoring in preparation for prize giving. Prizes were awarded by our various partners to the top 3 groups with all members receiving prizes.

·       1st Position - received 5 VR Branded Caps

·       2nd Position - received 5 VR Branded Umbrellas

·       3rd Position - received 5 VR Branded Key rings

The program concluded with a delightful tea and snacks session allowing guests to unwind, network, and reflect on the day's activities.

The event was a resounding success, leaving participants inspired and better informed about the critical need for giraffe conservation.

The event underscored the importance of community engagement and collaborative efforts in preserving these iconic creatures for future generations.

Take a look at the World Giraffe Day gallery:

Learn more about the Vipingo Ridge Giraffes: