David Pocock is the Ambassador for WildArk and is visiting their Pridelands conservation project in Limpopo while on his 6 month sabbatical.
David Pocock is taking a 6 month sabbatical from Rugby to focus on projects that will benefit the planet. Starting in South Africa David visited the Pridelands owned by WildArk.
“Taking six-months off from Rugby is exciting and also a little bit daunting, but what a better way to kick-start our journey than in the South African bush, we spent four days exploring Pridelands and learning about WildArk’s plans for conservation and ecotourism here.”
WildArk bought a former hunting farm which is about 4,500 acres and plan to restore for the protection of wildlife.
Wild Ark’s mission is to secure parts of identified green belts around the world to protect the rich biodiversity of these areas as a way of conserving wildlife, while creating research and experience opportunities for people to reconnect with nature and to become inspired to protect it.
Wild Ark was founded by Mark and Sophie Hutchinson, who together with their team, are concerned about the perils facing the world’s wild places and are actively working on ways to make a difference. David is thrilled with this idea and said,
“I think the most exciting thing about WildArk is that it’s a combination of acquiring land and returning it to wildlife, as well as developing tourism and education opportunities, WildArk want to bring people in and teach them about ecology and about the bush. They want people to have a real hands on experience that you don’t often get.”
David will be spending most of his sabbatical on his parents farm in Zimbabwe but will be back with WildArk in March for an EcoTraining course to learn more about wildlife conservation and protection.
“We’ve become so urbanised that to actually get out and reconnect with nature is something that hopefully everyone gets the opportunity to do. I really do think that there is something deep inside us that connects us with nature and when we do connect we begin to hopefully tread more lightly on the earth.”
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