Protecting Elephants

In 2021, The David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) will continue to support our ground-based conservation partners in Zambia to secure the release area of the elephant orphanage through a holistic approach to conservation; empowering rangers, supporting local communities, and rescuing and rehabilitating wildlife in the area.

The Elephant Orphanage project is currently rehabilitating 21 elephant orphans at the Kafue release facility. The project aspires to release these orphans back into the wild. However, the threats facing these orphans in Zambia, such as Human Wildlife Conflict (HWC) and poaching for ivory remain high. As such, this project seeks to secure a release area by supporting enhanced law enforcement initiatives across the wider area as well as by supporting community awareness and empowerment activities that aim to mitigate the indirect threats which are impacting Zambia’s wildlife.

DSWF recently received a heart-warming update on orphan elephant Batoka:

Since early 2020, Batoka, a previously orphaned elephant in the care of an expert conservation team, has been roaming the Kafue National Park with wild herds. However, after many months in the wild he has come back to socialise with the orphan herd who have been his family for the past 12 years. Batoka’s reunion was very special to witness and offered our ground-based conservation partners an opportunity to recollar him in a safe environment. With his new-collar functioning, Batoka’s movements can now be recorded around the clock and a GPS location is given every hour allowing for efficient monitoring and protection.

Click here for the full story on Batoka.

To learn more about our work with elephants plase visit our website.

Thank you for supporting us in our mission to turn the tide on extinction.