Feedback from Beneficaries
Elephants and Bees
The Elephant Ignite team visited the project in early November to meet the farmers whose lives they have impacted tremendously. The team also inspired local schoolchildren with their talks Elephant Conservation booklets and crayons which the kids were overjoyed to receive. Thanks to their kindness we were able to employ Esther Serem to help our project – Dr Lucy King.
Conservation South Luangwa
The Elephant Ignite team of adventurous ladies who visited CSL’s programs were a pleasure to have. We feel extremely grateful that they chose us as one of the projects to visit and South Luangwa, Zambia’s premiere national park. The Luangwa Valley is home to Zambia’s largest elephant population and like all elephants they are under fire. Any attention brought to our elephants helps our work in conserving them. School children booklets and crayons donated by Elephant Ignite have been donated to a school that is largely under supported, in an area that faces large human elephant conflict issues. – Rachel Robb.
Elephants Alive
Elephants Alive was privileged to host the Elephant Ignite Expedition and collar three elephants at Phalaborwa Copper Mine on 15 August 2016. Although this wonderful team of adventurous women sponsored only one of the collars we deployed, their sponsorship helped us deploy two other collars. We always try to deploy at least three collars with each collaring operation as this cuts down on the overall helicopter and veterinary fees per elephant. Also, their sponsorship enabled us to test new tracking devices developed by Savannah Tracking (Ltd).
The film prepared by Earth Touch on this collaring expedition has lead to an increase in our media exposure. We are most grateful to the Elephant Ignite Expedition for their friendship, passion and continued support. – Michelle Henley
EcoExist
The Elephant Ignite Expedition was a stunning initiative and we benefitted from their visit and their enthusiasm for our cause. They contributed to our education pamphlets and we will be able to share our conservation message to more people. – Dr Anna Songhurst.
Wildlife Connection
Elephant Ignite helped Wildlife Connection to continue doing our important work to promote peaceful human and animal co-existence. We work in the village communities around the Ruaha National Park, as the villagers live close to the animals there are times they compete for resources. EIE helped us and gave us tools to do more. – Hanna Shaw
Game Rangers International
The Elephant Ignite expedition made an amazing impact. We were privledged to be included in their itinerary. They helped us with vital education pamphlets to share with people living near the National Parks and they have contributed to our Orphaned elephant Awareness campaign. – Rachael Murton
SUMMARY OF DONATIONS AND WORK
Elephants and Bees Project:
- Two full beehive fences for two rural farming families next to Tsavo National Park
- Beehive fences consisted of 30 Langstroth beehives and honey super boxes
- 1.2 acres of land protected for each of the beehive fence families
- Two full bee suits and tools for maintaining the hives
- Contribution to vehicle expenses for beehive fence construction and maintenance
- Support towards salary for a woman Kenyan Project Officer
- 1000 EIE educational booklets for school children
- 4 boxes of crayons for school children
- 50 copies of educational posters for school children
Elephants Alive Project
- Paying for a satellite collar as part of a programme to minimise elephant/human conflict
- This enabled us to test satellite tracking devices
- We created a film on the collaring operation which increased awareness
- Provided 1500 Ignite Elephant booklets for education
- 2000 flyers and 100 educational posters distributed
Greater Mapungubwe Elephant Aerial Count
- We gave R12k financial assistance to this project to help them with their ongoing project.
Wildlife Connection
- A donation of R10k for 16 people to attend their Park Visit Programme to Ruaha National Park
- Funds towards completion of their four films to promote conservation efforts
- These films cover a broad range of subjects including elephant poaching and conservation. The films attract more than 200 viewers.
EcoExist
Money was spent on the following to support EcoExist
- 200 Ecoexist branded T-shirts (100 green long sleeve and 100 black short sleeve)
- 5000 Ecoexist information/promotional flyers
- 4 boxes of EIE educational booklets and 4 boxes of crayons
- 3 boxes of EIE educational flyers
- 50 EIE educational posters
- 7 guests on the “Life with Elephants” tour
- A donation of R10k – which we plan to contribute to the “Life with Elephants” tour group to fund a new donkey cart.
Game Rangers International
- Elephant Ignite supported GAME RANGERS INTERNATIONAL in 2016 with:
- 500 of EIE educational booklets which were distributed amongst the schools we work around Kafue National Park
- R10, 000 pending – which we plan to contribute towards the Orphaned Elephant Awareness Campaign, to improve relationships with people co-habiting with wildlife and encourage active reporting of orphaned elephants and illegal activity.
Kasungu Elephant Foundation
- Elephant Ignite witnessed the difference our fundraising efforts made first hand. The expedition donated funds to install a borehole and waterpump in Mndanka village. We donated R42k towards this vital pump for the community.
- The village community borders on the reserve where human-elephant conflict has been rife.
- The team has been using the borehole water to help with their community upliftment project where they grow oyster mushrooms.