Cypress, Calif., March 3, 2020, – In celebration of World Wildlife Day, The TreadRight Foundation is pleased to announce Ami Vitale as its first ‘Wildlife Ambassador.’ As an award-winning National Geographic photographer, filmmaker and writer, Vitale has traveled to over 100 countries. She has witnessed the enduring power of the human spirit including places of conflict, which inspired her philosophy of “living the story.” Vitale’s first-hand experiences leading to her passion for wildlife conservation makes her an exemplary ambassador, with her values aligning with TreadRight’s mission in support of its ‘Wildlife’ pillar.
“We are so pleased to announce on World Wildlife Day that Ami Vitale is our first ever TreadRight ‘Wildlife Ambassador.’ An incredible visual storyteller and photographer, Ami’s unforgettable and poignant images have resonated across a worldwide audience and online community,” said Brett Tollman, Chief Executive of The Travel Corporation and Founder of the TreadRight Foundation. “Her compelling work with rhinos aligns with TreadRight’s initiatives, including our work with rhino, elephant and leopard populations across Africa and India. We look forward to working with Ami to tell TreadRight stories in the future together.”
Earlier in her career, photography was her passport to meeting people, learning and experiencing new cultures. Now, it is more than just a passport, it’s a tool for creating awareness and understanding across cultures, communities and nations, to make sense of our commonalities in the world we share. Vitale later transitioned into wildlife photography after a life-changing moment in 2009 with Sudan, who was to become the world’s last northern male white rhinoceros, and with whom she felt an immediate connection. Nine years later at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya, she photographed the final dying moments Sudan had with his dedicated protector, Joseph Wachira. This powerful image was awarded National Geographic’s best image of the decade by its readers.
Vitale will be traveling with the TreadRight team to capture the wildlife conservation work being done at two Red Carnation Hotel Collection properties, Bushman’s Kloof Wilderness Reserve nestled in the foothills of the Cederberg Mountains in South Africa and the Xigera Safari Lodge in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, set to open June 2020. Vitale will help tell the stories of the extraordinary efforts employed by the Xigera property to empower local communities in its environmentally conscious build amid the incredible setting.
“I am thrilled to be TreadRight’s new ‘Wildlife Ambassador’ as their conservation projects are aligned with my personal values and I am delighted to be able to share some of these upcoming inspirational TreadRight stories to further generate awareness and understanding,” said Ami Vitale, National Geographic Photographer and Filmmaker. “We really are in a race to save the planet, and in understanding we can enjoy its extraordinary beauty but we are also responsible for taking care of it.”
For more information, please visit www.treadright.org and please join us as we #MakeTravelMatter by signing The Pledge.
About the TreadRight Foundation:
Created as a joint initiative between The Travel Corporation’s (TTC) family of brands, The TreadRight Foundation is a not-for-profit working to safeguard the planet, wildlife & people for generations to come. TreadRight’s mission is to #MakeTravelMatter through conservation, leadership and support for communities. To date, TreadRight has supported over 55+ sustainable tourism projects in 280+ communities worldwide. Foundation priorities are set by the Steering Committee. Past project partners include WWF, Conservation International, WildAid, The Travel Foundation and The National Trust in the UK. Current initiatives include the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Big Cat fund, WE.org and inspiring nature advocates like Céline Cousteau, Costas Christ and Terri Irwin. To learn more about our past and current work at TreadRight, please visit us at treadright.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter using our hashtag #MakeTravelMatter.
Make Travel Matter Pledge:
We will make travel matter – for our planet, for people and for wildlife.
Learn more about our pledge and join us: https://www.treadright.org/pledge/.
About Ami Vitale:
Ami has been named Magazine photographer of the year in the International Photographer of the Year prize, received the Daniel Pearl Award for Outstanding Reporting and named Magazine Photographer of the Year by the National Press Photographer’s Association, among others. Ami is a five-time recipient of World Press Photos, including 1st Prize for her 2018 National Geographic magazine story about a community in Kenya protecting elephants. She recently published a best-selling book, Panda Love, on the secret lives of pandas. She is also a founding member of Ripple Effect Images, a collective of
scientists, writers, photographers and filmmakers with a mission of creating powerful stories illustrating the very specific issues women in developing countries face.