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Aug. 27, 2013 – Jim Nyamu, a wildlife biologist in Kenya who is walking from Massachusetts to Washington, D.C. to raise awareness about the ivory trade and how it could lead to the decimation of elephant populations, will give a presentation at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 29 in Quigley Hall, Room 101 at Allegheny College. The public is invited to hear Nyamu’s talk, titled “Conserving African Elephants Through Walking and Talking.”

Billed as the “Noble USA Walk,” Nyamu’s journey will cover 33 days and 560 miles, ending on October 4 during the International March for Elephants, when supporters will march in 15 cities around the world.

The walk is part of a global appeal to people who care about elephants and conservation. The Ivory Belongs to Elephants campaign sets out to establish and support Community-Based Conservation Programs (CBCP), which have demonstrated the potential to conserve wildlife outside protected areas.

Last year up to 36,000 elephants were killed for their ivory, with one elephant killed every 15 minutes.
 At the current rate of poaching, experts estimate African elephants could face extinction in the wild by 2025.

Associate Professor of Geology Rachel O’Brien, who led an Experiential Learning seminar to Kenya in May, is organizing Nyamu’s visit to Allegheny. “The students and I were delighted to spend time with Jim during our trip to Kenya,” she said. “And we’re honored to be one of the few colleges to host him as he brings this important message to our students and community members.” Nyamu will also visit Harvard and Yale Universities during his time in the United States.

The Noble USA Walk will begin on Sept. 4 from Cape Cod to New York, making stops in New Haven, Philadelphia and Baltimore. It will end in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 4 during the International March for Elephants, organized by the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.