Virtual Spring Expo
Saturday, April 25, 2020
Details below
Fall Expo
October 10-11, 2020
More details to come
Have questions? Call us at 415.202.6380 or email us at events@wildnet.org
Spring Expo is Going Virtual!
At WCN there is nothing more important to us than community. We exist as a network of caring, dedicated people, so above all else, we care about the safety, health, and well-being of those in our community. Therefore, in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, we are thrilled to host our first-ever VIRTUAL Expo. Join us on April 25 as we bring heroic and inspiring conservationists from all around the world into your living room.
Wildlife Conservation Expo
Every year, WCN’s Wildlife Conservation Expos provide a unique opportunity to bring together wildlife’s most ardent supporters with some of the world’s leading conservationists to connect, share stories, and make life-long friendships. At Expo you can hear what it’s like to live and work in some of the most remote parts of the world and you can speak to conservationists directly to learn what you can do to help. Expos give you a chance to dive deeper into your love for wildlife, to learn what conservationists are doing to protect endangered animals, and become inspired to make a difference. It’s an event you won’t want to miss.
Expo Schedule
Charles Knowles and Jean-Gaël "JG" Collomb
9:00-9:20am, Wildlife Conservation NetworkCharles Knowles and Jean-Gaël "JG" Collomb
Charlie, president and co-founder of WCN, is a Silicon Valley entrepreneur who transitioned to wildlife conservation in 1994. He recognized the need for a new model in this field, and co-founded WCN in 2002. JG, executive director of WCN, began his career in wildlife conservation 23 years ago in the rainforests of Central Africa, where he tracked chimps and gorillas. Charlie and JG will kick off Expo with inspiring updates and a very special message from Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE.
Frank Pope
9:20-9:50am, Save the ElephantsFrank Pope
Save the Elephants (STE) is a leader in the fight against the elephant ivory crisis sweeping across Africa. Their mission is to conduct elephant behavioral research, promote human-elephant coexistence, and thwart poachers and the demand for ivory. STE was founded by Dr. Iain Douglas-Hamilton during his pioneering career spanning more than 50 years in elephant research and conservation. Frank Pope serves as the CEO of Save the Elephants.
DAVID KUVAWOGA
10:00-10:30am, Painted Dog ConservationDAVID KUVAWOGA
Chat with Conservationists: Session 1
10:30 - 11:00amChat with Conservationists: Session 1
Interact virtually with our Conservation Partners from all over the world. During this session, you can chat with:
Cheetah Conservation Botswana
Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Program
Niassa Lion Project
Saiga Conservation Alliance
OUTSMARTING THE NEXT OUTBREAK: COVID-19 Panel Discussion
11:15am - 12:00pmOUTSMARTING THE NEXT OUTBREAK: COVID-19 Panel Discussion
Since COVID-19 transferred to people through the consumption of wildlife, it has altered the lives of everyone around the world. We must learn about the origins of this virus so that we can avoid similar wildlife-related pandemics in the future. Hear from a panel of experts about where these viruses come from, how they jump from wildlife to people, and what we can do to stop the next outbreak.
Panelist include:
David Quammen
Science journalist and author of Spillover
Dr. Kirsten Gilardi
Executive Director and Chief Veterinary Officer, Gorilla Doctors
Co-Director at UC Davis Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center
Mary Rice
Executive Director, Environmental Investigation Agency
John Baker
Chief Program Officer, WildAid
Paul Thomson
Director of Conservation Programs, Wildlife Conservation Network
Chat with Conservationists: Session 2
12:00 - 12:30pmChat with Conservationists: Session 2
Interact virtually with our Conservation Partners from all over the world. During this session, you can chat with:
Andean Cat Alliance
Cheetah Conservation Fund
Ewaso Lion Project
Okapi Conservation Project
BELINDA LOW MACKEY
12:45-1:15pm, Grevy's Zebra TrustBELINDA LOW MACKEY
Belinda, co-founder of Grevy’s Zebra Trust, is a native Kenyan dedicated to saving the Grevy’s zebra, the world’s largest zebra species found only in Kenya and Ethiopia. In partnership with communities, conservancies, county governments, and the Kenya Wildlife Service, GZT engages people sharing Grevy’s zebra range to protect this endangered species and the resources on which it depends.
Chat with Conservationists: Session 3
1:15 - 1:45pmChat with Conservationists: Session 3
Interact virtually with our Conservation Partners from all over the world. During this session, you can chat with:
Global Penguin Society
MarAlliance
Proyecto Tití
Snow Leopard Conservancy
ROBYN APPLETON
2:00 - 2:30pm, Spectacled Bear ConservationROBYN APPLETON
Robyn fell in love with spectacled bears over ten years ago when she realized how little was known about the species, and how few of them remained in the wild. Since then, Robyn and her team were first to fit a GPS collar on a spectacled bear in Peru, and Spectacled Bear Conservation continue to weave scientific research into much-needed protective actions to ensure the future of these bears.
Expo FAQs
Is there parking at the event?
Yes, all day parking is available in the Community Center Garage next door to Mission Bay Conference Center (William J. Rutter Center). Expo is also located close to public transportation.
Will lunch be available at the event?
A boxed lunch is available for purchase at the event for $15. Vegetarian and vegan options will be available. Other refreshments will be for sale in the café until 4:00pm.
Will Dr. Jane Goodall be at Fall Expo?
Dr. Jane Goodall will have a stand alone event as a part of Expo weekend on Friday, October 11, from 6-7:30pm at the Masonic Auditorium. You can buy tickets to her event here.
Will tickets sell out?
Tickets have sold out in years passed, so it is best to purchase your tickets in advance to ensure availability.
Thank you to our sponsors!
We Offer Two Expos in California Each Year
Our Wildlife Conservation Expos bring over a thousand supporters together twice a year to meet their conservation heroes in person and hear their inspirational stories. While the Fall and Spring Expos are held in northern California, people come from all over the country—and some from outside the U.S.—to attend.
Fall Expo
Our flagship Fall Expo takes place on the second Saturday in October. This is our biggest and longest running Expo, it draws a crowd of over 1,200 people and over 50 conservationists from around the world.
This Expo offers an unforgettable day of storytelling and inspiration, the opportunity to connect with other wildlife enthusiasts, and the chance to support protection for endangered animals big and small, from lions and elephants to cotton-top tamarins and penguins.
Fall Expo
Our flagship Fall Expo will take place on Saturday, October 13, 2018 in San Francisco. Stay tuned for details.
Spring Expo
Spring Expo takes place at the end of April and offers a smaller, more intimate experience that still maintains the same level of inspiration and enthusiasm as the Fall Expo. At Spring Expo you have the opportunity to take a deeper dive into conservation; presentations are fewer in number, but longer and more in-depth.
Spring Expo
Our Spring Expo is typically held in northern California at the end of April.
We Offer Two Expos in California Each Year
Our Wildlife Conservation Expos bring over a thousand supporters together twice a year to meet their conservation heroes in person and hear their inspirational stories. While the Fall and Spring Expos are held in northern California, people come from all over the country—and some from outside the U.S.—to attend.
Did you miss an Expo presentation? No problem, all the presentations from past Expos are available to watch on video.
Watch More Expo VideosCatch Dr. Colleen Begg's Expo Presentation
The Niassa Lion Project (NLP) team believes that conservation is as much about people as it is about lions. NLP aims to build a sustainable lion-friendly community by working closely with community members, reserve management, and tourism operators.
Learn More
Watch More Expo Videos
Pablo Borboroglu Talks About Penguins at Expo
There are 18 species of penguins living in vastly different places in the Southern Hemisphere, from snow to tropics to desert and forests. Hear how Global Penguin Society is protecting all penguin species threats like pollution and climate change.
Learn More
Watch More Expo Videos
News & Stories
2017 Fall Wildlife Conservation Expo Presentations
If you weren't able to make it to the 2017 Fall Wildlife Conservation Expo or if you missed any of... Learn More
Spring Wildlife Conservation Expo: Lessons Learned, Inspiration Gained
On April 29th, we hosted our second annual Spring Expo for the first time in beautiful Marin County, California. Hundreds... Learn More
Top Five Expo Moments
The 2017 Fall Wildlife Conservation Expo was an unforgettable day of inspiration and remarkable memories. For us, these are the... Learn More
Wildlife Conservation Expo Videos
Nineteen of the world’s leading wildlife conservationists joined us for the Annual Wildlife Conservation Expo in San Francisco to share... Learn More
Wildlife Conservation Expo, Better Than Ever
Each year, the Wildlife Conservation Expo gives us a chance to bring the excitement and adventure of wildlife conservation fieldwork... Learn More
Wildlife Conservation Expo Inspires
At the age of 81, Dr. Jane Goodall is an enduring symbol of hope to people around the world. On... Learn More
Among Friends: The 2013 Wildlife Conservation Expo
On one Saturday each October, a (hopefully!) sunny corner of San Francisco buzzes with the energy of more than a... Learn More
Conservation Speakers Connect with Guests at Safari West
When most people think of wildlife conservation, they may imagine a khaki-clad Indiana Jones figure tromping through rainforests or scouring... Learn More
Houston Zoo Provides Support for Conservationists Across the Globe
The world-class Houston Zoo introduces over 2.3 million guests a year to animal ambassadors, educates its visitors about conservation, and... Learn More
Photography Credits: Grace Chu and Stephen Dang, Miguel Angel Sicilia. Video by HITN.