Page 78 - World of Animals - Issue #30

Conserving the elephant

Safeguarding the future for elephants with the wildlife that shares their ever-decreasing space, and there are many issues to
consider – competition for land; elephants threatening human life and crop security; and
Dr Max Graham is the founder and chief executive for Space for Giants, a the wildlife-dependent tourism economy. These pressures will not ease as the economy
conservation charity based in Kenya
and the human population continue to increase. Additionally, with the high price of
W hat are the major threats elephants face? ivory, poachers have become ever more determined and motivated, using sophisticated
Driven by the unprecedented demand for illegal ivory from Asia, 100,000 weapons and equipment, and paying handsomely for information.
African elephants have been killed by poachers in the last three years
alone – almost 100 elephants a day. In addition, their last refuges are disappearing too, What projects are you currently involved in?
under new infrastructure projects, increased natural resource extraction and agricultural Space for Giants works on the ground to provide a secure future for African elephants,
expansion. This means that humans and wildlife are being forced to share the limited the places they live and the species that share their range. We provide frontline protection
remaining space, resulting in human-elephant conflict and thousands of elephants being for elephants in the wild; secure space for elephants; mitigate human-wildlife conflict;

killed or injured each year. provide local training and education; and raise international awareness of the threats
facing elephants today. We are based in Kenya but are currently setting up the Giants Club
How can rangers stay one step ahead of poachers? – an exclusive forum that brings together African heads of state, global business leaders
It’s diffi cult, but we are making progress! In northern Kenya, where Space for Giants is and elephant protection experts to expand our work to other African countries.

based, a combination of interventions has resulted in a 74 per cent decline in the illegal
killing of elephants over two years. These have included well-equipped and highly trained How can World of Animals readers get involved?
rapid response teams, who are able to respond quickly to poaching incidents; increasing One of the best ways for readers to get involved is by adopting an elephant at www.
the penalties for wildlife crime; and community projects that help local people appreciate spaceforgiants.org/adopt. You will be directly supporting the costs of providing frontline

the value of wildlife and get involved in the fight against poaching. Our challenge now is to protection for an elephant in the Laikipia/Samburu ecosystem in northern Kenya,
roll these successful projects out across Africa. and get the opportunity to name your elephant. You can even adopt an elephant as a
gi’ for someone else. We also offer unique, once-in-a-lifetime challenge events and © Thinkstock; Nature PL; FLPA

What are the major challenges in elephant conservation? conservation safaris through our not-for-profit travel business, Journeys for Giants. See

Africa is changing very rapidly at the moment, with admirable economic growth putting our website for more information about Journeys for Giants or other ways to support us:
enormous pressure on natural ecosystems. Communities have complex relationships www.spaceforgiants.org, or email us at info@spaceforgiants.org.
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