How Local Leadership is Reviving Vanishing Species

You know about the rhinos and elephants facing extinction, but have you heard about the giraffe's silent disappearance? Even more endangered is the graceful hirola, a magnificent antelope down to fewer than 500 animals, found only on the Kenya–Somalia border.

Enter Dr. Abdullahi Ali. This episode tells the story of how his nomadic childhood shaped his career, leading him to earn a Ph.D. in ecology and establish the Hirola Conservation Program and the Somali Giraffe Project. These are not typical conservation groups; they are dynamic, community-led initiatives focused on rewriting the rules of coexistence.

Ali’s success lies in rooting conservation in local knowledge. His work ranges from restoring vital grasslands (once maintained by elephants before they were poached) to innovative solutions like helping farmers replace conflict-causing mango trees with lime trees to protect giraffes. This approach shows a powerful truth: when people are part of the solution, everyone flourishes.