Now that True Blood has wrapped production for the season, Kristin Bauer van Straten (Pamela Swynford de Beaufort) has set her sights on a higher and very worthy calling; filming a documentary on ivory poaching in Africa this August. The actress tells the site Celebuzz that the issue is actually a massive problem:
“Two species of rhino have gone extinct in the last six months and the numbers are staggering and I’ve heard the number was 100 elephants a day. So if we want to have elephants in the wild, I figured I’ll try and help out and do something.”
Kristin’s idea of doing something involves filming a documentary in collaboration with the NGO IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare):
“I’m going to Africa and we’re going to fly around the country interviewing people who are on the ground working and risking their lives every day and see what we can do to help them.”
The project is not just about creating awareness about how problematic ivory poaching has become in recent years. But it is also something that is very personal to Kristin’s African family. Her musician husband Abri van Straten, hails from South Africa and it was his grandfather who first discovered how to tranquilize large animals. This method is still employed by conservationists today.
“His family has been in Kenya trying to work on conservation for a hundred years. So, we are going to go back with his mother, who now lives in South Africa, and we are going to meet with people in the embassy and see what we can do about it. It’s very personal to my in-laws.”
Funding this important and personal project is going to require some help and Bauer van Straten isn’t afraid to use True Blood and the star power of her castmates to make it happen:
“What’s amazing is this cast is so ridiculously giving and talented. I’ll find EW covers and scripts and signed DVDs. And now I’m pressuring [Alexander Skarsgard (Eric Northman)] to sign a sock, which is basically his wardrobe. I think it’s going to be great.”
Source: Celebuzz.com- “‘True Blood’s’ Kristin Bauer Leverages Cast’s Star Power for Endangered South African Animals Doc”
Image Credit: Jerod Harris, WireImage
