Protecting Elephants

Thank you for donating to our Protecting Elephants project. With your support, we can continue to turn the tide on extinction, providing funding for our ground-based conservation partners who work on the front line to protect elephants.

David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation has provided funding for the Game Rangers International – Elephant Orphanage Project (GRI-EOP) since its inception over 10 years ago. When it began, the project was the first of its kind in Zambia and has since been a model for other similar organisations across the globe.

The core focus of GRI-EOP is the rescue, rehabilitation and release of orphaned elephants rescued from across Zambia and safely given a second chance at life in the Kafue National Park. Sadly, many adult elephants are still poached for their ivory every day, and these tragic killings leave behind infant elephants who are left traumatised and alone.

GRI-EOP respond to calls for orphaned elephants across the country and bring them back to the Nursery in Lusaka, where they have access to veterinary treatment and are given 24-hour care and socialise with other elephants who have been through similar trauma.

Recently, two new elephants were rescued and taken to the Nursery, Tuko and Lani, who were treated for malnourishment, sores and wounds after being out in the bush alone but who are both on the road to recovery.

Once the elephants have successfully been weaned from milk and are at the right age, they are moved to the Kafue Release Facility, where they can begin the rehabilitation to wild phase and venture safely out into the park, interacting with other wild herds, accompanied by the Keepers. It’s vital in this second phase that there is virtually no interaction with humans beyond qualified staff to ensure they are given a second chance at being true, wild elephants.

This year, three elephants were safely moved from the Nursery to the Facility and have settled in well, and we hope to see them released back into the wild in due course.

A number of the elephants which are on the release programme back into the wild are collared and monitored, to ensure the best possible protection from any poachers.

Time is running out for elephants. Without your support, we would not be able to continue funding this incredible project and working to secure a future for this iconic species.

Links:

• Discover our work with elephants
• Help us close ivory markets across the world