The PASA Interview: Becky Rose Reflects on PASA’s 25th Anniversary
PASA Board member Becky Rose reflects on PASA’s evolution on its 25th anniversary.
By: Ruby Vise-Thakor
Becky Rose, a longtime PASA board member, has over 30 years of experience in wildlife conservation and education. She’s worked with wildlife sanctuaries around the globe and is an avid advocate for the role of sanctuaries in conservation. She reflected on the history and evolution of PASA during a recent interview.
1. How did you become involved with PASA?
Becky Rose: The first international conservation project I became involved with in the early 1990s was a wildlife rescue center in Guatemala founded by ARCAS (Association for the Rescue and Conservation of Wildlife). From them, I learned the important connection between wildlife rescue centers and law enforcement authorities. There would be little or no enforcement of the laws unless the authorities had a place to take the confiscated parrots, monkeys, and many other species involved in the illegal trade. I knew that I wanted to become more involved with wildlife rescue centers and do what I could to help the brave and innovative people already leading the way in this area of wildlife conservation. This was the background that led me to enthusiastically embrace the early goals of the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance.
2. How has PASA evolved since it was founded in 2000?
BR: Primate rescue centers are some of the oldest conservation projects in Africa, and they became the founding members of PASA. PASA founder and future board president, the late primatologist Norm Rosen, felt there was tremendous strength in bringing the primate sanctuaries across Africa together to speak with one voice on behalf of the great apes and monkeys in range countries and to elevate and professionalize the work of African primate rescue centers and sanctuaries. Together with Doug Cress, PASA’s first executive director, they organized the first meeting hosted by Apenheul in the Netherlands. This meeting would not have been possible without the financial support of a donor from the Columbus Zoo. She made a difference!
Beginning as an alliance of sanctuaries with one staff member, Doug Cress, PASA has grown into a highly regarded non-profit with a professional board and 23 members. PASA provides services to our members, such as accreditation, support during emergencies, support and coordination for animal rescues, professional development opportunities (PASA Sanctuary Workshop, Veterinarian Workshop, PASA Educators Workshop, and sanctuary keeper exchanges), and assistance with fundraising and marketing.
3. Has working with PASA and our members changed your perspective on conservation?
BR: Yes – definitely! I would say the number one thing I have gained a deeper perspective on since joining PASA 25 years ago is the importance and effectiveness of grassroots conservation projects that are embedded in the local communities and that benefit the local communities in so many ways. Strong and trusting relationships with communities are so important, especially when dealing with the illegal wildlife trade.
4. Can you share some highlights from your time with PASA?
BR: There have been so many proud moments, but one that really stands out is when we were able to hire an experienced staff member (Head of Campaigns and Policy) to represent PASA at international meetings such as CITES. It was crucial for PASA to have a seat at the table and a voice on behalf of African primates and the threats they face in the wild. This was a dream goal of PASA and our member sanctuaries!
PASA has created awards over the years that provide an opportunity to recognize the day-to-day dedication and above-and-beyond efforts of African staff members at our member sanctuaries. Named for two of PASA’s founding members, the Siddle-Marsden Award is given to a sanctuary employee who has been nominated by their sanctuary director. I’ll never forget when we were all together at the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Sierra Leone – and we had a ceremony with all the Tacugama staff to give one of the first Siddle-Marsden awards to chimpanzee keeper Moses K. He humbly accepted the award but then immediately turned around to hand the award to his fellow keepers standing proudly behind him. He said the award did not belong to him alone – it belonged to his brothers and sisters, fellow chimpanzee keepers – and he could not do his work without the love and support of his fellow keepers.
PASA has gone through many challenging times as a non-profit. Getting through the pandemic together – PASA and all of our member sanctuaries – when we had no idea what would happen – was definitely one of the greatest challenges we have faced since our founding. Due to the fundraising skills of our PASA staff and the strength and resiliency of our sanctuaries, we were able to financially weather a very dark and uncertain time.
5. How have the threats facing primates and sanctuaries changed in the last 25 years?
BR: The threats facing all wild animals and their habitats have only increased in the past 25 years. Not only does habitat loss continue, but now the threats from the increasingly sophisticated illegal wildlife trade, as well as the impacts of climate change, are ramping up the urgency for all sectors of conservation to work together and represent a united front. The sanctuaries are now facing threats from traffickers involved in capturing wild animals to supply zoos in China and India, as well as challenges at the government level to prevent these threats from happening.
6. What gives you hope for the future of conservation?
BR: What gives me hope are the people I work with every day and their determination and courage in the face of all of these serious challenges. Our PASA member sanctuaries are saving wildlife, but many of them go far beyond the walls of their sanctuary to work in protected area management, law enforcement, community projects to provide sustainable livelihoods, environmental education, and many other areas.
But hope is not wishful thinking – hope is action – we can’t have hope without bold action in standing up for our wildlife and our one and only planet.
Photo by Roberto García-Roa, Parc de la Lékédi