Ocelot speaker Dr. Kirstie Ruppert updates her work in Kenya

Global Conservation Leaders Founder/CEO Joy Wolf with Dr. Kirstie Ruppert

Dr. Kirstie Ruppert serves San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance as a Scientist in Community Engagement. In this position, she conducts social research to understand the human dimensions of conservation issues and to evaluate conservation learning programs. Her current work is based in the conservancies of northern Kenya, where she works in partnership with pastoralist communities and conservation organizations to promote coexistence between people and wildlife, including giraffe, leopards and elephants. Her primary focus in the giraffe conservation program has been to train and support the Twiga Walinzi (Giraffe Guards) who are monitoring reticulated giraffe and addressing human pressures on wild populations.