Kristin Davis (Sex and the City) will be receiving The Wyler Award at this year’s 25th Annual Genesis Awards. Not familiar with the name? Well, it’s one of the Humane Society of the U.S.’ most prestigious honors.
Davis is being recognized for her lifelong passion for elephants. The actress was on Safari in Africa two years ago and discovered an abandoned baby elephant. Davis arranged for him to be taken to the world-renowned David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, which runs a unique program for rehabilitating orphaned elephants and rhinos. The animals are then gradually reintroduced back into the wild.
Inspired by the work of the Sheldrick orphanage – and her rescued elephant, named Chaimu, whom she “adopted,” – Davis has resolved to keep the spotlight on the dangers facing wild elephants, whose numbers in Africa have dropped from 1.2 million in 1979 to approx 420,000 in 2010.
Rhino poaching is also on the rise and is even threatening to wipe out the endangered black rhino within a decade.
“I am so excited to receive The Wyler Award from The Humane Society of the United States, as it gives me the opportunity to keep talking about an issue that’s a profound labor of love for me,” the actress said in a written statement. “Elephants are truly amazing animals and they need our protection, and what people in this country may not realize is that they can help by not buying ivory items.”
The Genesis Awards are given to a celebrity or public figure who has made news on behalf of animals. The Wyler Award is specifically named after Broadway actress and founder of The Genesis Awards, Gretchen Wyler, who is an animal advocate.
The Genesis Awards are distributed March 19th, 2011, at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza, Los Angeles, Calif.