ANNOUNCING OUR NEW AMBASSADORS
As we mark the 50th Anniversary of Earth day this week, we are delighted to announce the addition of two Ambassadors to our team to help us fight for the protection of wildlife and wild spaces.
Wild Tomorrow Fund’s Ambassadors are high-profile individuals who are passionate about our mission to save wildlife and wild places, and are leveraging their unique talents to bring extra support and exposure for Wild Tomorrow Fund’s work. They are passionate about wildlife conservation and are not afraid to tell the world about it!
We are very proud to announce our two new Ambassadors for 2020: Nadja Rutkowski from Hoboken, New Jersey and Martin Meyer from Johannesburg, South Africa.
Nadja Rutkowski’s passion and desire to protect wildlife began with a trip to Kenya in 2005. Since then she has become one of the biggest elephant lovers we know, and has expanded her love for elephants to encompass the entire natural world. Nadja is passionate about sharing her experiences and fun elephant and rhino facts with children, and has given many engaging talks at school groups in New York City including the girl scouts. She is an avid photographer and uses her photographs and social media to engage with wider audiences and inspire others to love and protect African wildlife.
Nadja is passionate not only about wildlife but also about supporting the incredible women and children who live near our reserves. “WTF’s mission is so admirable to me” says Nadja, “as it really combines all three important facets of conservation…the land, the animals, and the people. Many organizations focus on one or the other, but all three need each other, and supporting all three is key.”
Our first giraffe calf at Ukuwela by Martin Meyer.
Martin Meyer is a South African wildlife photographer of incredible talent. Photography is his passion and any chance he can get, Martin is out driving in the South African bush, taking his distinctively artistic wildlife photographs. The closest reserve to Martin is Pilanesburg, just over 2 hours drive from Johannesburg. His photos are regularly featured by Pilanesberg National Park, helping to raise the profile of the Park and its incredible wildlife. We first met Martin last December, after he answered our call to photograph a very special moment - our first newborn giraffe at Ukuwela. Martin drove the next weekend, a 7 hour journey from his home to our Ukuwela Reserve. It was a tough assignment, and Martin succeeded on the final day. During his time ‘in the wild’ at Ukuwela, he capturing incredibly magical photographs not just of our giraffe but of pregnant zebra, impala and other beautiful scenes.
We asked Martin what his favorite moment has been so far in nature. “My first thought was a moment with a leopard” said Martin, “since I do have a particular affection for them but actually thinking about it, it was when I was asked to search for a newborn baby giraffe and then finding it after almost 4 days of searching at Wild Tomorrow Fund’s amazing Ukuwela Reserve”.
“I’ll go driving for hours on end, searching and looking but always enjoying” said Martin. “Nature has an indescribable beauty. Seasons change but the beauty remains. Moments are all around we just need to slow down and notice.”
An elephant mother and calf in Kenya’s Tsavo National Park by Nadja Rutkowski.
Nadja’s favorite moment in the wild happened in Kenya, when a big Elephant bull was all alone, and she was all alone with her photography group in a jeep. “The bull approaching us with a slow but steady walk” said Nadja, “He walked right by us, but did stop to give us a head-shake. It’s a rather simple moment, but very impactful. To be so close to such an amazing creature, in his habitat is just so very special.”
“I am beyond humbled and honored” said Nadja on her invitation to be a Wild Tomorrow Fund Ambassador. “To be officially associated with such a stand-up non-for-profit, who not only do everything by the book, you know where donations go, and who also treat their staff and volunteers with the highest respect, is just wonderful.”
“I am very excited for what the future will hold for myself and the crew from Wild Tomorrow Fund moving forward in their dream of saving habitats for the animals in and around Ukuwela.” said Martin.
Thank you Martin and Nadja! Welcome to the Wild Tomorrow Fund team.
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