A virtually unmissable event: Wildlife Ball 2020 Fundraising November 11, 2020 The team at David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) and Board of Trustees, would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who stood with wildlife on Friday 6 November and supported us during this unprecedented time at our annual Wildlife Ball. “As an organisation operating in the environmental and biodiversity landscape the impact of 2020 has been huge – on us, on our conservation partners and on the wildlife, we fight to protect,” says Georgina Lamb the Chief Executive of DSWF. Thanks to our dedicated supporters, we successfully raised over £80,000 for our vital conservation efforts across Africa and Asia, despite not being able to host a physical event at the Dorchester this year. Instead, we delivered a Covid-safe virtual event to over 500 individuals, via our partners Givergy, from the comfort of their homes. Evolving to end extinction – the evening was hosted by acclaimed zoologist and BBC presenter Mark Carwardine, and broadcast directly into viewers’ homes, who tuned in from around the globe in their ball gowns and dressing gowns. “We are currently in the middle of the world’s sixth mass extinction. One million animals and plants are currently threatened with extinction. Since 1970, we have lost over half’s the world’s wildlife,” says Mark Carwardine If you missed out on the opportunity to attend our Wildlife Ball 2020 you can watch it here: “The emergence of pandemics is entirely driven by human activity and the choices, we as a species, have made. By prioritising economic growth over ecological stability, we have become the architects of chaos,” says Georgina It’s not too late to champion conservation you can donate to our Emergency Appeal, which launched on the evening of Friday 6 November. Emergency Appeal – Fight Wildlife Crime: End Future Pandemics A recent scientific report highlighted that over 70% of all emerging diseases and almost all known pandemics are zoonoses. That means a disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans. A primary cause of this transmission is our consumption and exploitation of endangered wildlife. We used to talk of the illegal wildlife trade being a multibillion-dollar industry, which of course it is still is but now, however, we look at the economic impact of Covid-19 born from the illegal wildlife trade and it pales in comparison. The cost of prevention by closing wildlife markets and ending wildlife trade is drop in the ocean compared to the recovery costs we now face. Read more about our Emergency Appeal. Entertainment and performances David Gower, Dame Judi Dench and Joanna Lumley are all long-time DSWF supporters and spoke up in aid of our Wildlife Ball and endangered wildlife across the planet. Guests were treated to an energetic interpretation of the much-loved children’s classic Tarzan by the incredibly talented performers from West End Kids followed by an update on the elephant orphans from Zambia. We also had a conversation with eight-year-old, Harry Dobell, who walked 15 miles to raise £800 for pangolins, the most trafficked mammal in the world. “Moving mountains” in our swansong of the evening is the sensational mezzo-soprano singer and DSWF Ambassador, Laura Wright. Wildlife Ball 20202 Silent Auction: Our exclusive Silent Auction included an array of artistic treasures and money can’t buy experiences, which successfully raised for DSWF’s vital conservation efforts across Africa and Asia. Included in the Silent Auction was three generations of original Shepherd artworks donated by Mandy Shepherd and Emily Lamb. We are extremely grateful to all the big-hearted, forward-thinking brands, artists and individuals who contributed to the overwhelming success of our 2020 Silent Auction. Silent Auction Donors: Armstrong SafarisChristine Cummings David Gower and The Dorchester CollectionDr Roz Reeve Emily LambGeorgina KhachadourianHazel Soan James KyddJenna Green Joni-Leigh Doran Kate Hughes (for the three-night stay at Noka Camp)Laura Wright Mandy Shepherd Melanie ShepherdNatalie MascallNigel Colne Pangolin Gin Sabina Savage Snow Leopard TrustStella Mays Stephen RewSue WattsTanya & Charles RussellVoygr Expeditions (for the snow leopard expedition) Watatunga Reserve Link copied
