A LIFE OF ADVENTURE, JACKIE HAILSTONE’S JOURNEY TO PROTECT OUR PLANET

When WWF supporter and Legacy Society member Jackie Hailstone was just a young girl in England, she set an ambitious goal to explore as much of the world as possible. Jackie’s passion for travel, wildlife and cultural discovery has taken her to more than 100 countries, where she’s had some of the most extraordinary encounters with nature. From camping with lions in Kenya to swimming with pink dolphins in the Amazon, Jackie’s story is one of excitement, wonder and a deep commitment to protecting the natural world.

We spoke with Jackie to hear about her incredible adventures and what inspires her when it comes to caring about the planet. She also gave us her top five wildlife encounters, and we thought they were just too good not to share… 1. A lion walking through the camp “I lived in Kenya for two years. I worked there as a teacher. It was a great place to experience animals. There was one time a few of us went camping at Amboseli National Park. We just packed the tents and got into the vehicles. While we were camping, a lion just walked straight through the camp!”

2. Swimming with pink dolphins in the Amazon “In the Amazon, I swam with pink dolphins. These creatures have long snouts, and they really are pink. You get in the water, and they swim right up against you. There were eight or nine swimming around us. There weren't many of us in the water at once, but I'm sure we all got gently bumped.”

3. The Galapagos Islands “The Galapagos Islands were really something. You could just walk among the iguanas and the sea lions and they didn't bat an eyelid.”

4. Whale encounters “Antarctica was also special because it was lovely to see the whales. We went on an expedition ship. Each day, a few people went out in an operations boat, which held about a dozen people. The seats were very high up, and suddenly, there were so many whales all around us. It was stunning. It was so exciting and just so lovely.”

5. Close up with a polar bear “And last, but certainly not least - one year, we visited Hudson Bay, northeast Canada, where the fresh water freezes over as the river runs into the bay. This huge polar bear wandered near, sat down and started cleaning itself. I thought, ‘This is just amazing’.”

“The thing with nature, and with wild animals, is you can never guarantee anything. That’s why you feel so privileged when you do see them.” A lifelong love of nature Jackie’s love for wildlife began in her childhood. Growing up, she had chickens, dogs and cats. She loved going on nature walks to the streams at school; there were butterflies, tadpoles and frogs, butterflies and caterpillars. As a teacher, Jackie shared this passion with her students, reminding them that nature is important. She also started a school garden and kept rabbits and guinea pigs at school. The children were always keen to bring in the things they’d found to show her.

Why protecting nature matters For Jackie, conservation is personal. “What would the world be like without animals? Wouldn’t it be terrible? Nature is everywhere, so it must be looked after. We're all part of it. It's sometimes a bit difficult to be hopeful. When you’re aware of things like climate change and coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef, for example. People say it's cyclic. And it is. But it's just happening so quickly.” While the challenges of climate change and habitat destruction can feel overwhelming, Jackie believes in the power of collective action. “People have got to be aware of this. We need to keep our eyes open and be aware. I'm hopeful that my legacy will help towards something positive.” Jackie’s story reminds us of the beauty and vulnerability of our planet. By leaving a gift in her will to WWF, she’s ensuring that future generations can experience the wonders of nature she’s cherished so deeply. Be inspired by Jackie’s journey. Jackie’s story is a powerful reminder of the beauty and fragility of our natural world and the importance of protecting it for generations to come. You too can make a difference.

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