Wildlife Jewels Celebrates World Wildlife Day in Newport Beach Through Art, Conservation, and Community Action
Wildlife Jewels’ World Wildlife Day Newport Beach Community Celebration at the Civic Center Community Room and Park, FEB 28, 2026. Photo: Arturo Garcia-Ayala
Wildlife Jewels Hosts 2nd Annual World Wildlife Day Community Celebration in Newport Beach
130+ Attendees • 70+ Volunteers • 120 Native Plants Planted
Wildlife Jewels hosted its 2nd Annual World Wildlife Day Community Celebration at the Newport Beach Civic Center Community Room and Civic Center Park, bringing together more than 130 community members and over 70 volunteers for an inspiring afternoon of wildlife education, art, and hands-on conservation action.
Families, students, conservation partners, and community leaders gathered to celebrate wildlife while learning about the challenges animals face and the actions communities can take to help protect them.
Wildlife Talks and Conservation Insights
Inside the Civic Center Community Room, attendees heard engaging presentations about local California wildlife, their remarkable beauty, the threats they face, and practical solutions for protecting them.
Speakers included:
Azi Sharif, Founder & Executive Director of Wildlife Jewels, who shared insights from Wildlife Jewels’ EYES™ coastal wildlife field observations program, launched in 2024 to help document and better understand increasing threats to coastal wildlife.
Pam Carrie and Sunny Saroa of the Monarch Butterfly Waystation Committee shared remarks on pollinator conservation and led a milkweed seed demonstration and giveaway, helping empower residents to support monarch butterflies at home. Representatives from Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley’s District 5 Office also joined them at the exhibit table.
Andy Blue shared powerful stories from the frontlines of big cat rescue and conservation, highlighting the urgent need for global collaboration to protect endangered wildlife.
Newt Likier of the Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center spoke about the rescue and rehabilitation of hummingbirds and other wildlife in Southern California.
Together, the speakers highlighted how community awareness, science, and collaboration are essential for protecting wildlife locally and globally.
A Special Congressional Recognition
A highlight of the celebration came when U.S. Congressman Dave Min addressed attendees and presented Wildlife Jewels® with a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition, honoring the organization’s conservation work and its World Wildlife Day community celebration.
The recognition highlighted the growing impact of Wildlife Jewels’ efforts to inspire communities to protect wildlife through education, art, and hands-on conservation programs.
Community Outreach and Wildlife Education
Throughout the celebration, Wildlife Jewels volunteers hosted outreach tables where visitors could learn more about the organization’s conservation programs and the wildlife living along Southern California’s coast.
At the Plant for Wildlife table, guests discovered how native plants support pollinators such as hummingbirds and butterflies, and how small actions at home can help create habitat for wildlife.
The Sweep for Wildlife table displayed marine debris collected during Wildlife Jewels’ coastal cleanups, including fishing line and other harmful materials removed from Corona del Mar State Beach. These displays helped illustrate how pollution impacts seabirds, marine mammals, and coastal ecosystems.
Visitors also learned about EYES™, Wildlife Jewels’ coastal wildlife observation and field documentation program, and Rescue Crew, the organization’s developing community-based rescue support initiative focused on responsible observation, reporting, and preparedness for wildlife in distress.
Through these displays and conversations, volunteers helped connect the community to meaningful ways people can support wildlife through stewardship, observation, and conservation action.
A Living Gallery of Wildlife Art
Outside in Civic Center Park, the celebration transformed the space into a vibrant open-air gallery inspired by Wildlife Jewels’ original art collections.
The exhibit featured Wildlife Gems, original hand-painted fine art by Wildlife Jewels’ Founder and Executive Director, Azi Sharif, portraying wildlife resting on gemstone settings. These works are inspired by real animals and species whose stories deserve to be seen and remembered—from survivors such as Batifa the leopard, Thandi the rhino, Simba the lion, and Rita the Raccoon, to species like Antarctic krill, whose beauty and vital ecological role in the Antarctic ecosystem are often overlooked. Each painting helps share the story, resilience, and wonder of wildlife through art.
The gallery also featured pieces from the “Arts of Wildlife™” collection, which blends Azi’s original wildlife photography of real wildlife we’ve observed in the field or helped rescue, with fine art to create an immersive visual experience connecting art, wildlife, and conservation storytelling.
Each artwork in the exhibit was accompanied by a poster sharing the story of the real animal that inspired the piece, allowing visitors to connect more deeply with the wildlife behind the art.
Dress for Wildlife
The exhibit also included pieces from the “Dress for Wildlife®” collection—conservation-inspired gowns and dresses created by Azi. Each design begins with original wildlife photography captured by the artist, transforming those images into wearable art. Carefully selected fabrics mimic the colors and textures of the featured wildlife, while handcrafted appliqué elements echo the animals’ natural patterns and characteristics.
Displayed on dress forms throughout the gallery, the gowns brought the wildlife stories to life in an enchanting way—blending fine art, photography, fashion design, and conservation storytelling.
Together, the paintings, photography, fashion, and storytelling created a magical setting that invited the community to experience wildlife through art and to see every species as a precious living jewel of our planet.
Paint the Jewels: A Community Wildlife Art Experience
At the heart of the celebration was Paint the Jewels, Wildlife Jewels’ signature community art experience, where families and volunteers came together to help paint large collaborative wildlife canvases.
The animals featured in the activity are part of Wildlife Jewels’ Arts of Wildlife™ collection and are inspired by real wildlife we’ve observed in the field, or by animals whose rescue and conservation stories help inspire awareness and compassion. Surrounded by real wildlife photographs and story posters, participants were invited to discover the animals behind the art before adding their own color to the shared paintings.
Working within the artist’s original linework, children and adults helped transform each canvas into a collaborative celebration of wildlife, creativity, and conservation.
Through art, storytelling, and shared participation, Paint the Jewels invited the community to experience wildlife in an inspiring new way—and to see each species as a precious living jewel of our planet.
Volunteers in Action
More than 70 volunteers helped make the celebration possible, supporting activities throughout the event and helping bring the community together for conservation action.
Volunteers assisted with event setup, guided visitors through activities, supported the Paint the Jewels community art experience, and helped plant native pollinator habitat in Civic Center Park.
A special highlight was the Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew kit assembly, where volunteers worked together to prepare rescue support kit boxes that can assist trained community responders helping wildlife in distress.
Their dedication and enthusiasm played a vital role in creating a welcoming and inspiring celebration for the entire community.
A special highlight was the Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew kit assembly, where volunteers helped prepare rescue support kits that will assist trained community responders who help report and support wildlife in distress.
The volunteers’ dedication and enthusiasm played a vital role in creating a welcoming and inspiring event for the entire community.
Creating Habitat for Pollinators at the beautiful Civic Center Park!
The celebration also included a hands-on conservation activity as part of Wildlife Jewels’ Plant for Wildlife program, in Civic Center Park, where volunteers and families worked together to plant 120 native pollinator plants.
These plants help support butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators, creating living habitat that will continue to benefit wildlife long after the event.
Turning Inspiration Into Action
Wildlife Jewels’ unique approach blends art, wildlife science, and community engagement, transforming inspiration into meaningful conservation action.
“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.”
Community Partners & Exhibitors
Wildlife Jewels® is deeply grateful to the organizations and community partners who helped make this celebration possible.
Community partners and exhibitors included:
Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center
Newport Bay Conservancy
Crystal Cove State Park
Laguna Ocean Foundation
Ocean Animal Response and Research Alliance
Pacific Marine Mammal Center
Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley District 5 Office
Monarch Butterfly Waystation Committee
Together, these collaborations demonstrate the power of community partnerships in protecting wildlife and restoring ecosystems.
Special Thanks
Wildlife Jewels extends sincere thanks to the local businesses and supporters who generously contributed to our World Wildlife Day Newport Beach Community Celebration.
Stonefire Grill
Special thanks to Stonefire Grill for their generous donation in support of our World Wildlife Day Newport Beach community wildlife education event.
Roger’s Gardens
Special thanks to Roger’s Gardens for donating 20 native plants to our World Wildlife Day celebration, helping support pollinators and environmental stewardship in our local community.
BLICK Art Materials
Special thanks to BLICK Art Materials for generously providing art supplies that supported the Paint the Jewels community wildlife art experience.
Their support helped make this community celebration possible.
Additional Event Photos
Enjoy highlights from Wildlife Jewels’ 2nd Annual World Wildlife Day Community Celebration.
Photo gallery from Wildlife Jewels’ World Wildlife Day Newport Beach Community Celebration at the Newport Beach Civic Center Community Room and Park, February 28, 2026. Photos: Arturo Garcia-Ayala
