Project Khumbula is the product of a years-long quest to educate and inspire action for conservation.

Earth is rapidly losing a large number of its species every day due to deforestation, human-wildlife conflict, poaching and the international pet trade, and global warming. However, there are numerous conservation organizations around the world working tirelessly to combat the reality of that narrative. The Project Khumbula Collection was created to showcase the beauty and importance of those animals we are in danger of losing without those dedicated conservation efforts.

Khumbula is a Zulu word meaning “to remember,” and it is a word of special significance to me. Since I was very young, I have been enthralled with Africa. I’ve spent my entire life studying Africa’s cultures — learning their languages, their religions, the way they revere life — and their animals. African lions have reigned over my long list of favorite animals from the moment I could talk. No lion has ever been so special as a lioness at the Saint Louis Zoo named Cabara. For over fifteen years, I cultivated a bond with this special girl. In January 2025, she passed away from complications due to old age. I created Project Khumbula to honor all those like her who became cornerstones in the lives of all those like me — a way to remember them when the rest of the world kept turning.

Please take a stroll through the photographs of this gallery and learn about the animals with whom we share our time, space, and resources. If you feel compelled to make a purchase, please know that a portion of the proceeds from the item(s) you choose will be donated to a conservation organization supporting that species in the wild. It is my hope that this venture will create a steady stream of impact, however small, for just one more animal out there.

Thank you,
Megan