Swapping His Supercars For Saving The Survivors
Paul Naden of Saving the Survivors
Swapping his supercars for Saving the Survivors, Paul Naden has given up his millionaire lifestyle to help save and treat endangered animals
Paul Naden is one of the most iconic trailblazers we’ve ever featured. A self-made millionaire who regularly enjoyed luxury holidays and cars, he has given it all up to help fight for the survival of some of the worlds most engendered animals.
To the outsider, he lived an enviable lifestyle but Paul, who had always had one eye on charity, wanted more. Purchasing extravagant things simply because ‘he could’ had lost its appeal, and after a conversation with his doctor, where he was told his partying lifestyle could see him dead sooner rather than later, he decided to take a step back and think about his next move.
He soon turned his back on the trappings of wealth. Initially creating the charity ‘Project Red’ which combined travelling Africa and spending time with various charities and projects who were in need of funding or sponsorship.
During one of many African travels, Paul was introduced, under the horrific scenes of watching the treatment of a rhino who had had its horn hacked off by poachers, to Dr Johan Marais, veterinarian and founder of the charity 'Saving the Survivors'.
Spending time with Dr Marais and others opened Paul’s eyes to the plight of the planets endangered species and so he decided to commit to working with the charity virtually full-time. He is now set to take part in a major TV series about his work.
“I’ve always had one eye on charity work; even with one of my early businesses, I ensured a percentage of profits were donated to charity, made donations and even encouraged my staff to get involved with charitable endeavours by offering them paid leave if they wished to pursue something. I did all the things you expect a successful yet socially conscious businessman to do. I attended fundraising dinner parties, bought things at charity auctions and wrote a few cheques now and again but I always wanted to do more” says Paul.
And he has.
Over the years Paul has dedicated more of his time to Saving the Survivors. He is now leading its small team of dedicated professionals who are working globally to help animals in need.
“I feel so lucky and privileged to be able to do something that I take so much joy from but that also helps conservation and wildlife,” says Paul. I might not leave a legacy behind but I know what I am doing is making a difference to not just mankind, but the animals we share a planet with too.”
The work of Saving the Survivors is soon to become a prime-time TV feature. The series will follow Paul and the charity as they travel to South Sudan in the hope of discovering a previously unknown population of northern white rhinos, a species officially declared extinct in 2018 by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
“I can’t do everything but what I can do is make sure I use my good fortune and financial luck in life to make the world a better place. I may fail in my efforts but at least on my deathbed, I will be able to look back at my life and say ‘I tried.’ We are focused on the plight of the northern white rhino right now. It is a big challenge but we are looking for what we believe is the last male species. It is reportedly somewhere in South Sudan and we are now working to find it.”
Working with Saving The Survivors, Paul is not only hoping to make a difference to those animals in need but those of the future and is passionate about using his financial fortune to help as much as he can.
You can follow Paul’s progress on instagram at @pauljanden or online at www.paulnaden.com
Information about the work of Saving the Survivors is available at www.savingthesurvivors.org