Stories

Photo: Frank af Petersens

Mixed News for Elephants in 2022 August 12, 2022
The first half of 2022 has brought a mixture of good and bad news for elephants in Africa. Poaching levels remain low across most of Africa, but there are some places where it endures and it seems that ivory trafficking may be picking up again. Meanwhile the threat from human-elephant conflict continues to escalate.
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Bringing Down an Ivory Trafficking Network August 12, 2022
Successful law enforcement efforts against high profile wildlife criminals like the members of the Kromah network have disrupted ivory trafficking networks. These arrests also send a clear signal that trading in ivory is no longer a low risk activity. Read more about how members of this notorious network have been brought to justice.
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Addressing the Root Causes of Human-Elephant Conflict in Botswana August 12, 2022
A critical elephant landscape with high levels of human-elephant conflict (HEC) in Botswana is getting special treatment. ECF grantee, Ecoexist Trust, is taking a holistic approach to mitigate HEC by addressing the root causes of the conflict.
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An Inspiring Trip to Central Africa August 12, 2022
Visiting partners in remote parts of Africa is a core part of our work and ensures that every dollar donated is used for maximum benefit for elephants. However, when the COVID pandemic struck, our team found themselves grounded in Kenya, only able to communicate with partners through crackly internet calls. Fortunately travel restrictions have eased and our intrepid teams are making up for lost time by visiting key elephants sites and partners. ECF Director, Dr. Chris Thouless, was particularly impressed by what he saw during a recent visit to Central Africa.
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Sigh of Relief for Communities Living near the Serengeti August 12, 2022
Communities living alongside the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania are breathing a collective sigh of relief after the installation of elephant-proof grain stores. Farmers traditionally store grain in huts made from mud and sticks, however, these are no match for elephants in search of food. To solve this problem, the ECF has supported Frankfurt Zoological Society to install ‘elephant safe’ grain stores, made of bricks and cement and each able to hold up to two tonnes of dried grains.
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An Extraordinary Workhorse in the Wild August 12, 2022
In 2015, the ECF funded the purchase of a Tractor Loader Backhoe (TLB) for the The Zambezi Society, at a time when poaching pressure was severe in Zimbabwe’s Zambezi Valley. This was the first time the ECF had bought such a machine, but it has been in almost constant use since then, opening and repairing roads, repairing stream and river crossings, and much more. Little did we realize at the time the extraordinary impact that this humble piece of machinery would have, both to stem the tide of poaching and to increase much needed tourism income across the valley.
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