So much of what I think, regarding animal conservation, was brewing in my mind and churning in my soul for years, but cemented with my trips to Kenya and Rwanda. I was constantly asking, 'are we using animals to serve us, or are humans imperative to the future of a species?' I have come to realize it is all about balance. It was Jock and Betty Leslie-Melville who founded The Africa Fund for Endangered Wildlife (A.F.E.W.), in 1979. At that time the Rothschild Giraffe's numbers were dwindling so they decided to jump in and lend a hand. Fast forward 50 years later and thanks to their Giraffe Centre, and other similar projects, there are 700 Rothschild Giraffes dotting the landscape of Kenyan (and Ugandan) Parks. It is largely because the Giraffe Centre butts up to one of the most exclusive hotels, The Giraffe Manor, that there is a greater awareness of the plight of these beautiful animals. Sure the giraffes serve as a key aspect to the hotel, but it is here that balance can be found. The giraffes aren't solely there for the benefit of the patrons, but are there for breeding and to create an opportunity to both educate, as well as help others connect to these beautiful and leggy beings so that others, too, can advocate for their protection. We move on to Amboseli, and the conservancy that surrounds the Tortilis Camp. Between the two of them some 5-7 ecosystems are represented. For me the giant, gentle, social and sensitive African Elephant has my heart in this vast and varied land. I watch, breathlessly and in utter awe, as we drive through the conservancy, where elephants are definitely the main attraction. These impressive numbers are possible largely because of the park rangers and their dedication to the absolute protection of these beautiful souls. Coupled with the rangers, governmental intervention and education, both in country and worldwide, place the elephant's valuation on their life, instead of their hides or tusks. Time at the Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage proved just how imperative the human connection is to the elephant. If a baby elephant is spotted by one of the rangers in the parks, who has lost his/her mother and still milk-dependent, the orphanage and the team sets into action to bring the orphan in. The bond between elephant and keeper is undeniable; you can see the honor of the keeper and the gratefulness of the elephant at first glance. Each elephant is bottle fed, loved and in constant companionship from the moment they come to call Sheldrick home. After 3-5 years they start to prepare the elephant to go back out and live amongst the herds roaming free in many of the parks in and around Kenya. We say goodbye to Kenya and head to The Volcanoes National Park, in Rwanda, home to 640 mountain gorillas. In the days of Dian Fossey, a determined, fierce and relentless advocate of the gorilla, their numbers dwindled to about 250. However, thanks to her dedication, and the value she gave these incredible beings on the world stage, future researchers came to realize the importance of balancing protection, education and conservation. It is due to the dedication and diligence of those who have followed in Dian Fossey's footsteps that the population has grown to over 1,000, and the space of eco-tourism was born. It is through eco-tourism, park fees and gorilla permits, that Rwandans prosper. Rwanda, with increasing opportunities and economic stability, finds that in working with the villagers they build their army of those protecting the gorillas, and their habitat. Because the ex-poachers now can subsist on being porters and shop-keepers, they are incentivized to help, rather than harm. Because the villagers can now sustain their families, via protecting the habitats on the mountain, they no longer clear cut areas to graze cattle or raise crops leaving it lush and available to the dietary needs of the gorillas. They now see that gorillas truly are worth more alive. than made into trophies or sent off to foreign zoos. Here's to finding the right ways to do more to protect our unique creatures, and striving to find the balance between the species.