Ami Vitale, a world renowned and highly regarded National Geographic photographer, spoke on both the middle and high school Harvard-Westlake campuses on April 28th and April 29th 2026, respectively.
Her message was clear: the degradation of our planet and wildlife must not be normalized.
In recent years human activity has continued to be the root cause of many of the world’s environmental issues. The ever-increasing global warming crisis, the poaching of wildlife and degradation of native habitats, and the drastically changing climate reflect the lack of action that the general population has taken regarding environmental action.
During her presentation Vitale shared her journey regarding both her career and her discovery of her passion for wildlife conservation, urging the audience to recognize everyone’s role in environmental responsibility.
One of the main messages of Vitale’s presentation was that of respecting the wildlife and also the people who inhabit a specific region, such as Kenya. Her focus was on a photo series, The Last Goodbye that she has created during her time in Kenya which largely follows the last male northern white rhino, Sudan, who passed away March 19, 2018, at the age of 45 at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya.
Vitale reflected upon her immensely intimate journey with this special creature: a rhino that represented the lineage and descendants of creatures who have roamed the Earth for around 55 million years.
The passing away of this animal places this species in a very precarious position. There currently remain only two female northern white rhinos, Najin and her daughter Fatu, who both similarly reside in Kenya at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy.
The story of how they got to such a precarious position is the result of human inflicted harm in the form of poaching. Because their horns are so valuable – more valuable than gold itself – these rhinoceros were nearly driven extinct by poachers.
In fact, in 2008 they were declared extinct in the wild, with only eight remaining in zoos, and now in 2026, with only 2 females left, the chance of rehabilitating this species seems rather limited.
Scientific hope, however, has emerged. As of last year, the BioRescue project has now created 39 northern white rhino embryos using IVF, which they hope to successfully transplant into southern white rhino females.
The story of these critically endangered species reflects the extent to which some humans have caused destruction to the natural world around them. It serves as a necessary warning to all of us: if we do not change our actions and the way we respect the natural world, not only are we endangering other species, but greatly endangering ourselves.
This idea, relating the importance of the coexistence of wild and human life on our planet reflects the ultimate message of Vitale’s presentation. Her incredible work in documenting pandas, elephants, and rhinos conveys the urgency of addressing environmental challenges.
Furthermore, Vitale founded the non-profit organization Vital Impacts in 2021, to support conservation efforts and community-oriented organizations through visual storytelling and art, reflecting her own passion for environmental awareness and all of the work she has done to protect wildlife.
