Wildlife Jewels® hosts 2nd Annual World Wildlife Day Community Celebration in Newport Beach
Wildlife Jewels® hosted their 2nd Annual World Wildlife Day Community Celebration at the Newport Beach Civic Center Community Room and Civic Center Park, welcoming 130+ community members and mobilizing 70+ volunteers for an afternoon of wildlife education, community art, and hands-on conservation action.
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Photo by Arturo Garcia-Ayala/Courtesy of Wildlife Jewels
Volunteers plant native pollinator habitat in Civic Center Park during Wildlife Jewels’ World Wildlife Day Community Celebration in Newport Beach on February 28
Inside the Civic Center Community Room, attendees heard presentations on local California coastal wildlife, their magical beauty, and the threats they face, along with field observation stories, wildlife rescue highlights and practical conservation solutions. Speakers included Dr. Azi Sharif (Wildlife Jewels), who shared findings from Wildlife Jewels’ EYES™ coastal wildlife field observations program, launched in 2024 in response to increasing threats to coastal wildlife, the Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley District 5 Office and the Monarch Butterfly Waystation Committee, who joined with remarks; a milkweed seed demonstration and a generous seed giveaway –empowering residents to support monarch habitat at home; Andy Blue, who shared stories of big cat rescue and conservation, and Newt Likier of the Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center, who shared insights into hummingbird rescue and rehabilitation.
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Courtesy of Wildlife Jewels
Azi Sharif, founder & executive director of Wildlife Jewels guides a community wildlife art activity as youth paint the collaborative “Paint the Jewels™ of the World” canvas during Wildlife Jewels’ World Wildlife Day Celebration in Newport Beach
Outside in Civic Center Park, the celebration transformed the space into a vibrant open-air gallery – canvases featuring wildlife from local seabirds and harbor seals to rhinos, elephants, lions, leopards, butterflies and hummingbirds, surrounded by native plants and conservation-inspired fashion gowns displayed on dress forms inspired by the artwork. The immersive setting invited families to connect with wildlife through creativity, learning and action. Families and volunteers joined a colorful community wildlife painting experience, assembled Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew kits, and planted 120 native pollinator plants to create living habitat.
Wildlife Jewels’ unique approach blends the arts, wildlife science and hands-on community action – turning inspiration into real conservation action.
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Photo by Arturo Garcia-Ayala/Courtesy of Wildlife Jewels
U.S. Congressman Dave Min and Azi Sharif, founder & executive director of Wildlife Jewels, connect with youth participants during Wildlife Jewels’ World Wildlife Day Celebration
“Wildlife needs our help now more than ever and the only way to protect them is by working together – organizations, individuals, communities and public leaders,” said Dr. Azi Sharif, founder & executive director of Wildlife Jewels. “It was an honor to see so many neighbors here today – passionate, engaged and committed to learning and protecting wildlife.”
A highlight of the event was remarks from U.S. Congressman Dave Min, who presented Wildlife Jewels with a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition in support of the community celebration and the organization’s conservation work.
Wildlife Jewels® is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to protecting wildlife through art, science, technology and community engagement.
Learn more at www.wildlifejewels.org.
