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This is another episode of the Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders program series!

Across Africa, thousands of primates are finding themselves the victims of the illegal wildlife trade, bushmeat hunting, and habitat loss. For many, survival depends on the work of sanctuaries. These safe havens provide food, medical care, and, in some cases, even a path back to the wild.

Today’s guest, Kaitlyn Bock, has spent the past decade with the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA) helping to support these vital places. PASA is a network of 23 sanctuaries in 13 countries working together to rescue primates, fight trafficking, and engage local communities in conservation.

Kaitlyn’s stories- from orphaned chimps taking their first steps into forested enclosures to the tireless staff who keep sanctuaries running day after day- shine a light on why sanctuaries matter and how they give wildlife a second chance.

Highlights

• What makes a sanctuary “good” and how to spot red flags.
• Why reintroduction to the wild is both rare and extraordinary.
• The hidden role sanctuaries play in enforcing wildlife laws across Africa.

Key Signs of a Good Sanctuary

• No direct contact: Visitors should not be feeding, bathing, or taking selfies with the animals.
• Educational focus: You leave more informed about the animals’ plight and why the sanctuary exists.
• High-welfare enclosures: Spacious, naturalistic habitats that mimic the species’ environment.
• Enrichment provided: Animals are given activities and materials (like branches or puzzles) to encourage natural behaviors.
• Transparency: Staff openly explain each animal’s story and why they are there.
• No intentional breeding: Ethical sanctuaries don’t breed animals in captivity for display or tourism.
• Responsible social media: No images of animals in clothes, behaving like pets, or posing with tourists. Captions should educate, not entertain at the animals’ expense.

What YOU Can Do

• Donate to sanctuaries. Even small, monthly gifts- especially unrestricted- help to cover food, care, and staff.
• Volunteer either on-site or remotely with skills like grant writing or communications.
• Speak up on social media when you see red flags in wildlife content.
• Only visit sanctuaries that avoid direct contact and focus on education.

Resources

• Pan-African Sanctuary Alliance website
• X
• Facebook
• Instagram

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This season of Forces for Nature is extra special- all of the guests are participants in the Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders (EWCL) program, a global network of conservationists who are pushing the boundaries of how people and wildlife can thrive together. As EWCL celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, I’m spotlighting some of the inspiring individuals whose work is shaping the future of conservation.

To kick things off, I sat down with Dr. Hugo Pereira, a field veterinarian with the Mozambique Wildlife Alliance. Hugo’s job might sound like it’s all about the animals- from darting elephants, to rescuing orphaned rhinos, and rehabilitating pangolins- but as he makes clear, conservation is just as much about people. In Mozambique, communities and wildlife share the same land, which means Hugo’s work often starts with listening to frustrations, building trust, and co-creating solutions that reduce conflict and create opportunity. And while you may never lift a rhino calf into a helicopter or pull an elephant out of the mud, you probably do encounter your own version of human–wildlife conflict whether it’s deer eating your garden, coyotes prowling your neighborhood, or simply the daily choices of how your community shares space with nature. Hugo’s “people-first” approach shows us that coexistence starts with compassion, creativity, and persistence and the principles he lives by in the savannas of Mozambique are the same ones that can guide us in our own backyards.

Highlights

• The adrenaline and precision behind rescuing a rhino calf orphaned by poachers.
• How Hugo and the Mozambique Wildlife Alliance adapt with creativity in the field to save animals in crisis.
• Why a “people-first” approach is essential for reducing human-wildlife conflict and creating space for coexistence.

What YOU Can Do

• Volunteer your skills to support local zoos or conservation institutions.
• Share conservation stories on social media. Spreading the right information helps raise awareness and attract wider support.
• Donate to conservation organizations.
• Educate yourself about organizations in your own area: Who they are, why they do what they do, and what would happen if they didn’t exist. This awareness builds empathy and informed support.
• Get informed about local wildlife and why they’re present. Understanding why deer, coyotes, or other species show up in neighborhoods helps people move from frustration to tolerance.
• Modify your environment to prevent conflict:
  • Build or adjust fences to keep animals out of gardens or crops.
  • Use deterrents like flashlights, noises, or scarecrows, depending on the species.
• Recognize “tolerance” as an important step: we don’t have to love the wildlife around us, but learning to tolerate them is the bridge toward coexistence.

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

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After a powerful series of conversations recorded at the EarthX Conference in Dallas, Texas, Forces for Nature host, Crystal DiMiceli, is taking this moment to pause, reflect, and share what she's carrying forward as the season ends.

In this solo episode, she talks about the common themes that emerged across the EarthX series, the value of having all stakeholders in the room—even those we may not always agree with—and why it’s okay to hold complexity in this moment. She also offers some gentle questions to help you stay grounded and engaged as we face both political and environmental challenges alongside a sneak peak as to what she will be up to in the coming months.

EarthX is more than just a conference—it’s a space for unlikely alliances, which leads to real, on-the-ground hope. If you're intrigued to check out the conference for yourself, go to https://earthx.org/

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?