NICCI WRIGHT

Nicci is the APWG’s Co-Chairperson and Executive Director. She brings many years of experience to her role in governing the APWG in the fields of pangolin rehabilitation, behaviour, husbandry, and the release of pangolins that have been confiscated from the illegal wildlife trade back into suitable wild environments. Nicci rehabilitated her first pangolin in 2008 and was a founding member of the APWG, from 2011 when the organisation was established.  A member of the IUCN Pangolin Specialist Group since 2012, Nicci is an internationally qualified Wildlife Rehabilitation Specialist who has worked with close to 450 indigenous species, over her 25-year career. She is one of the main characters in the Netflix film Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey.

Nicci, has been granted Honorary Life Membership in recognition of her dedication to the mission of pangolin conservation and her loyalty and contribution to the establishment, growth and continuation of the APWG.

Following an initial conversation between Ray Jansen and Nicci Wright, during a chance encounter in 2009, the seed was sown to bring a diverse group of people together, for countering the illegal trade in pangolins. The common goal would be a passion for understanding and protecting pangolins in Africa.

The APWG’s objectives then and now have stayed the same and are encompassed in Nicci’s loyalty and continued activity as the Co-Chairperson and Honorary Life Member.

She brings many years of experience and outstanding success rates in our vital role of saving pangolins from the illegal trade and ushering them back to the wild. She is an expert in facilitating the media; interfacing with governmental departments; testifying in pangolin poaching cases in court and teaching law enforcement Standard Operating Procedures for the best practise in handling of poached pangolins.