Nairobi National Park, the only wildlife reserve within a global metropolis, celebrated 75 years since its creation on Thursday, December 16.
It was the President of the Republic Uhuru Kenyatta, accompanied by the Minister of Tourism and Wildlife Najib Balala, to celebrate the day of celebration, unveiling also a bronze sculpture representing a lion.
Kenyatta reiterated his country's commitment, already expressed at the recent World Environment Conference in Glasgow, to the conservation of flora and fauna.
"Anyone approaching Kenya will have to deal with environmental and climate change, new socio-economic realities and urbanization - explained the President - we will have to be able to think beyond the clichés and act accordingly to continue to take care of our wonders even with exponential population growth. We're going to have to be creative in making sure that the next generation can live with wildlife as we have.
Kenyatta called on young people to take responsibility and to consider Nairobi National Park a true global icon, inviting his Minister of Tourism to present a new, modern and sustainable environmental plan for the entire area that measures 31 thousand acres.
For his part, Balala recalled the good results achieved in recent years in the fight against poaching and thanked the President for the granting of 2 thousand more acres to be added to the park.
Four Italian honorary rangers were also invited to the ceremony: Olga Levari Ercolano, Elisabetta Levis, Massimo Vallarin and Paolo Torchio.

(photo Paolo Torchio/Malindikenya.net)