Peter Matthiessen, Author and Naturalist
- Introduction by Isabella Rossellini, Actress and Conservation Advocate
From the Himalaya to the Savannah - Life in the Wild

Peter Matthiessen is a novelist, life-long naturalist, environmental activist, and wilderness traveler whose nonfiction includes The Tree Where Man Was Born, which was nominated for the National Book Award, and The Snow Leopard, which won it. His most recent work is Birds of Heaven, which chronicles his many journeys in search of the world's 15 species of cranes.

Among his honors are the Gold Medal in Natural History from the Philadelphia Academy of Sciences, the Heinz, John Hay and Society of Conservation Biology awards and the John Burroughs and Christopher medals. He is also a 1991 Laureate of the Global Honor Roll of the United Nations Environment Program.

Iain Douglas-Hamilton
Save The Elephants
Walking in Giant Footsteps

Iain Douglas-Hamilton has studied and protected the elephants of Africa for nearly 4 decades. He pioneered the study of wild elephants, was the first to alert the world to the devastation created by poachers, and was instrumental in bringing about the worldwide ban on ivory. In 1993 he founded Save The Elephants (STE); the organization continues his leadership in elephant research, education and grassroots conservation.

Douglas-Hamilton maintains that "The best potential ambassadors for elephants are those who live amongst them, the people with whom the elephants share their land and their future." Innovative STE programs work with the local Samburu and Maasai people to combine their traditional knowledge and deep connections to wildlife with modern science; these programs both reinforce traditional culture and build a new conservation ethic. STE also supports community-based activities such as wildlife education, ranger training, and elephant scout programs for community conservation areas, and conducts a broad research program covering elephant range needs, movement, behavior, physiology and population dynamics.

Join us to hear Iain Douglas-Hamilton's unparalleled perspective on what must be done to save the African elephant.

Dr. Rodney Jackson
Snow Leopard Conservancy
Saving the Elusive Leopard of the Himalaya

Despite its remote habitat high in the Himalaya of Central Asia, the snow leopard cannot avoid conflict with the people who share the same mountains. As pastures for domestic livestock expand, the population of the snow leopard's indigenous prey declines. When the worlds of the snow leopard and villagers collide, all lose.

The SLC works with villages to create a better solution for all. Entire communities participate in identifying measures that would improve their lives; typically they seek predator-proof corrals, education to improve livestock management, and ways to develop alternative sources of income. The SLC provides this help, and in return villages set aside pastures for native wildlife so the leopards are less likely to hunt domestic livestock. Because these plans come at the community's request-and because these measures really work-villages become strong supporters of snow leopard conservation and stewards of their environment.

Dr. Rodney Jackson has tracked and studied snow leopards for more than 20 years; he is the leading expert on the species. He'll share results of his recent work in Nepal and India, new insights about snow leopard behavior, and stories about grassroots community conservation in the Himalaya.

John Lukas
The Okapi Project
Wildlife Conservation in the War-torn Congo

The Okapi Project protects a pristine 8,230 square mile reserve in the heart of the Congo's Ituri Rainforest from poaching and habitat encroachment. The Okapi Wildlife Reserve is home to a variety of rare and endemic plants and animals, including forest elephants, chimpanzees and the okapi-a rare forest giraffe that is the flagship species for this magnificent ecosystem. The indigenous people of the area, the Mbuti pygmies and Bantu, have lived for centuries in the forest, taking only what they need to survive.

The last seven years of war have devastated the region. The Okapi Project's headquarters have twice been occupied and looted by rebels. Surprisingly, not all effects of war have been detrimental for the wildlife - and the Okapi Project has served as a source of hope for the local people who depend on it for their livelihood.

John Lukas, President of Gilman International Conservation and Founder of the Okapi Project, recently returned from a visit to the project. His presentation will underscore the importance of conservation during times of war, and show how projects can succeed under difficult and dangerous conditions.

Dr. Jim Sanderson
Small Cat Conservation Project
Small Cat Conservation Around the World

Of the 36 recognized cat species in the world, 22 are small cats. Few of them are known even to wildlife enthusiasts. Nearly all are endangered, and many are critically endangered. Little is known about most of these cats, which live reclusive lives in remote, harsh environments. Without more research, it will be impossible to save these small cats.

Jim Sanderson is one of the world's leading experts on small cats, especially the Andean mountain cat and the guigna ("gween-ya") of South America. His research resulted in landmark sightings and photographs of the tiny Andean Mountain Cat. Sanderson also supports and collaborates with conservationists studying small cats all over the world.

This research is essential to identifying the specific areas where conservation programs for small cats should be implemented. Based on this information, Jim and his team work closely with local people to find solutions to conflict and educate them on the value of these small predators in the ecosystem.

Laurie Marker
Cheetah Conservation Fund
The Cheetah's Run for Survival

When Laurie Marker moved to Namibia in 1991, the country's cheetah population was in steep decline. Cheetahs were blamed for livestock losses, considered vermin, and trapped and shot indiscriminately.

Cheetah Conservation Fund, co-founded by Marker, has given the cheetah a second chance. CCF's innovative conservation, education and research programs reach out to everyone who influences the cats' future-ranchers, government officials, and the people of Namibia. CCF helps ranchers by providing guard dogs to protect livestock from predators, education on better livestock management, and relocation of cheetah to cat-friendly areas. CCF's education programs about cheetah and wildlife conservation reach thousands of schoolchildren as well as the Namibian public. Bio-medical research, radio-tracking programs and field studies provide a better basis for managing and growing cheetah populations.

Although the cheetah is still endangered, CCF's work has bought the cat valuable time. Today Namibia's cheetah population has stabilized and a growing segment of the local population supports cheetah conservation. Marker's presentation will show that it is now possible to envision a future in which cheetah and man coexist without conflict.

Dr. Tom Foose
International Rhino Foundation
Lessons from the Frontlines: Battling Rhino Poaching

The survival of the rhino is threatened by one simple thing-its horn. That horn, valued so highly on the worldwide black market for medicinal and decorative purposes, has created a lucrative market for poachers. There are 5 sub-species of rhino in Africa and Asia, and all are critically endangered.
Because the economic gains from poaching are so great, those who protect the rhino have been forced to extreme measures as well. Some reserves and parks have assigned round-the-clock armed guards to each remaining rhino!

The International Rhino Foundation is at the forefront of the battle to protect rhino and prevent poaching. It supports extensive rhino monitoring and protection units, anti-poaching teams, anti-poaching intelligence, and community outreach. IRF also supports rhino captive breeding centers, now essential to the survival of the species given the low numbers of animals remaining in the wild.

Dr. Tom Foose is Program Director of the International Rhino Foundation and works to protect rhinos in Africa and Asia. Tom believes that rhinos can survive if vigilant levels of protection continue. He'll bring alive the conservation lessons he has learned on the frontline against poaching.

Claudio Sillero-Zubiri
Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Program
Saving Africa's Lone Wolf

Africa's only wolf, the most endangered species of dog in the world, has a last stronghold in the remote mountains of Ethiopia. There are only an estimated 500 wolves left. They are threatened by loss of habitat due to overgrazing and agricultural expansion, diseases they catch from domestic dogs, and indiscriminate hunting.

The Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Program works closely with local communities to protect this rare wolf, which is the flagship species for the Ethiopian highlands ecosystem. The EWCP teaches improved livestock husbandry and agricultural practices, vaccinates and treats domestic dogs to prevent the spread of disease, and builds an understanding of the important role the wolf plays in the ecosystem.

Dr. Claudio Sillero-Zubiri began his research on the Ethiopian Wolf as a student 15 years ago. Tracking the wolves on foot and horseback, he learned what was needed to protect them. His work inspired others, and in cooperation with local scientists, teachers and conservationists, he created the Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Program.

Wildlife Cinematography: At the Edge
Mitchell Kelly

In the demanding and specialized world of wildlife cinematography, Mitchell Kelly has a reputation for capturing the most challenging animals on film. He has won several awards for his work, and many of the behaviors he has recorded have not previously been seen…let alone caught by the camera. According to one producer, Kelly "has an unusual ability to read the unpredictable behavior of animals". In addition, he explores ingenious camera set-ups, such as remote-controlled cameras and infra-red lighting, to avoid disrupting the natural behaviors of his subjects.

Kelly's presentation highlights the risks, thrills, and technical challenges this cinematography entails, as well as the contributions it makes to conservation. He will screen and discuss Wild Asia: At the Edge, a film about the animals and ecosystem of the Himalaya, for which he spent an unprecedented 28 ½ hours filming a snow leopard. And only Expo audiences will get a sneak preview of his latest work, with never-before-seen footage of wild snow leopards in their natural habitat.

Wild Cats - Up Close and Personal
Rob and Barbara Dicely, Leopards, Etc.

A close encounter with a big cat is an undeniable thrill. In the wild, it's often exceedingly difficult to see one of these rare creatures.

But at the Expo, Barb & Rob Dicely of Leopards, Etc. can guarantee a close sighting-they will introduce attendees to several of their "ambassador cats" including a cheetah and snow leopard. It is a unique and entertaining opportunity to learn more about the lives and behaviors of these magnificent felines, and to experience their power and grace firsthand.

The Dicely's have been educating California audiences about wild cats for more than 20 years. These memorable encounters provide powerful lessons about the need for conservation-and about the loss we face if these endangered cats are not protected.