As she reaches out to pet the young elephants that stroll easily around the enclosure, Tiassa Mutunkei’s smile catches the eye. She is the young Kenyan whose heart beats for conserving wildlife.
Beyond the smile and passion, Tiassa is known for her mind. She can tell you everything you need to know about the current dilemma wildlife species are facing. Her words compel you to pause and commit time or resources to saving the animals that make up our ecosystem.
The question one is likely to ask is how all this came to be for this Kenyan wildlife conservationist. Well, it began years back with a trip to The Animal Orphanage on Langata Road in Nairobi. The plan for the day was to have fun. More than that, the aim was to be fascinated by the various wildlife species rescued from around the country. And it was here that her love for wildlife first sparked. It has since grown into a roaring enthusiasm for the creatures of the African savanna.
In the later years of her primary education, the information about wildlife didn’t seem sufficient. This encouraged Tiassa to seek more ways to understand wildlife rather than let her excitement wither. And so, in the spirit of wanting to know more, Tiassa sought after organizations looking for volunteers. She dove headlong into her passion when she lent a helping hand at both Wildlife Direct and African Wildlife Foundation. Her active participation in the activities, surrounded by all kinds of furry and scaly creatures, gave her more information than she had expected. And this she greatly appreciated. Then an idea came to her. Tiassa considered mobilizing her peers who were interested in wildlife conservation; but it was just an idea. For some months, it remained that way, swirling through her mind.
Eventually, Tiassa decided to immerse herself fully into the conservation effort. After all the information and experience secured under her belt, she knew where to begin – with fundraisers. Through this approach, her leadership experience was noted and manifested steadily. It met with her passion, and she channelled it into events that she would organize in the years to come. And this was how her initiative, “Teens 4 Wildlife”, came to be.
Tiassa has since become fully invested in wildlife storytelling through filmmaking, researching, and documentation. She has grown an interest in the ins and outs of human/wildlife conflict. The conservationist has found that the image of a pile of burning ivory, for example, is particularly impactful. It illustrates the very real consequences of poaching and moves spectators to a new understanding of the problem. Through sharing her story at environmental events, Tiassa has spurred many to act. Chosen as a National Geographic Young Explorer, Tiassa spoke at an event called the Global Classroom. There, she inspired young, eager children with a budding interest in conservation.
Her outreach to young people has not stopped there. Recognising the complexity of human/wildlife conflict has caused her to intervene in schools. The National Geographic young explorer facilitated children to go and see wildlife in national parks. By doing so, she aims to break down the notion that wildlife can only be spectated upon by some. In doing so, Tiassa has built a much-needed bridge between animals and people who would have otherwise been at odds due to the encroachment of humans and the killing of livestock by wildlife. Tapping into ancestral knowledge of communities who have lived alongside wildlife is one of Tiassa’s priorities. She works towards centring these communities in conversations around conservation.
Now studying a bachelor’s in Global Challenges at African Leadership University, Tiassa is hopeful for the future of African conservation. We are no longer losing as many elephants as before. Looking to the future, Tiassa’s wish is to see conservation knowledge included in educational curriculums.
Tiassa’s hard work has created spaces for other young Kenyans who share the same passion for wildlife. From her we see many things: the will to learn, to pursue our passion, and most importantly, to conserve wildlife.
