Gemma Kemps Takes Her Love of Community and Nature Abroad

“The mother and I were eye-to-eye within inches of each other. She picked up her trunk and softly smelled my face, The experience was extraordinary and was one I will never forget. From that moment, I vowed that I would work to help protect and conserve the elephant population.”

Africa is a wild, mystic place; a photographer’s paradise; a utopia for escapists, and a continent that defies interpretation. Palos Verdes resident Gemma Kemps ’dream of aiding the African Elephants began years ago in Kenya. “On a private safari, a baby elephant and its mother approached our truck. The mother and I were eye-to-eye within inches of each other. She picked up her trunk and softly smelled my face, The experience was extraordinary and was one I will never forget. From that moment, I vowed that I would work to help protect and conserve the elephant population.” With her conservation work and extensive travels, Kemps has kept her promise.

Life on the Palos Verdes Peninsula has been good to the Kemps family. “By being able to enjoy the view of the Pacific Ocean and our surrounding environment, living in Palos Verdes Estates gives me a sense of calm.” And that’s only part of what it’s all about says Gemma, who also serves as president of the Malaga Cove Homeowners’ Association. As much as she loves traveling to other lands, she is always thrilled to come home to her beloved community of more than 20 years.

“The Malaga Cove Homeowners Association is my current focus; balancing the needs of the Association’s members and engaging with neighbors strengthen my ties to the community,” she says. After raising her three children in Palos Verdes and living here with her husband Michael, who serves on the Palos Verdes Estates City Council, Kemps is excited about the future.

“I have known my husband for nearly 40 years. We met when we were 12 years old. His aunt and uncle lived across the street from my parents. We were reacquainted in our early 20s and have been inseparable since,” she says.

Recently, after two weeks in India where the couple traveled with a group dedicated to the work of the non-profit  Wildlife SOS, they visited New Delhi, Agra, and the Ranthambore National Park with the organization which is focused on making lasting changes to protect and conserve India’s natural heritage, forests, and biodiversity.

“In addition to visiting regular tourist sites, we visited an elephant hospital, a sloth bear sanctuary, and a national forest known for protecting the Indian tiger.  We learned much about Wildlife SOS’s practical and legal progress in stopping the practice of dancing bears and the abuse of elephants for tourism and ceremonial events,” Kemps says.

For someone who has traveled extensively, Kemps thrills at experiencing new cultures, especially through wildlife conservation. “Rwanda was an amazing country. It has rebounded from a horrific genocide and its people have a tremendous spirit. It’s beautiful, with sprawling farms and countryside. We visited Sabyinyo, home of the Silverback gorilla, and trekked into the Rwanda Volcanoes National Park. Visiting Russia on a cruise ship excursion was also an interesting experience.  The vast differences and history between St. Petersburg and Moscow are fascinating. St. Petersburg is a rich, colorful, almost European experience, while Moscow is a population center where the country’s political and cultural history is evident,” she says.

Kemps believes that preserving beautiful and endangered species is critical to joint survival as the population increases. “I enjoy understanding and participating in the conservation efforts associated with protecting wildlife. I intend to continue to travel extensively, supporting non-profit organizations that invest directly in conservation.”