Tag: human-elephant coexistence

It’s Friday the 13th but Good Luck for Us!

Published on by elephanatic
ELEPHACT FRIDAY:
Volunteers Make ALL The Difference! 
A big thank you to our grade 11 student volunteer, Muskan Sadioura, who has been super proactive in sharing Elephanatics mission to protect the African and Asian elephant!
Muskan is a student at Fleetwood Park Secondary School in Surrey and has worked diligently at sharing our lesson plans with teachers, encouraging other students to support us, and has given an announcement to her whole school about our organization.
She will be introducing Elephanatics to her elementary school’s student council this June and will give a school wide announcement next October about our organization. She has also offered to deliver presentations to summer camps that have requested us to speak this summer.
We can’t thank her enough for her passion and drive to support elephants and her desire to give back to the community.
Thank you, Muskan!!
Pic 1) Muskan delivers announcement to school.
Pic 2) Display in Fleetwood Park Secondary School hall on elephants.

Student Takes A Stand For Elephants!

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Calling All Students!

We are so pleased to share our student volunteer’s blog, “Help Save the Enchanted Elephant.” Dhanvin is a grade 10 student attending Kwantlen Park Secondary School in Surrey. From his experience growing up in Asia, he has a keen sense of the need to protect this valuable species. We thank him for his time and efforts at promoting the work we do as an organization at his school.

Help Save the Enchanted Elephant

(My teacher giving an info session on Effects of Elephant Poaching)

May 9th, 2022

Hi, my name is Dhanvin. I am a grade 10 student attending Kwantlen Park Secondary School in Surrey, BC, Canada. I have offered to volunteer with Elephanatics – an elephant advocacy organization based in Vancouver – to help spread awareness about the crises facing both the African and Asian elephant and the necessity to help save these majestic animals.

Growing up in Asia I have a deep connection with Elephants. I have admired these fascinating creatures since my childhood. Elephants play a significant role in my culture. I had the privilege to touch and ride on one. I vividly remember riding on a 20-year-old Asian elephant. It felt magical riding on this magnificent creature. Riding over 7 feet high through a thick green luscious forest gave me the opportunity to reflect and reconnect with nature. This is one of my favourite memories that I will cherish all my life. Little did I know at the time that riding elephants is not good for them and can cause unnecessary pain to their backs. After reading about unethical tourism, I realized I needed to make others aware that in order to ride elephants they have to go through a horrible procedure to become tame called, ‘Phajaan’ or ‘the crush’. It means to break their spirit and they are beaten to become domesticated. Unethical tourism is a big problem and needs to end.

African and Asian elephants are powerful, compassionate and magnificent animals. They are also ecosystem engineers, playing a critical role in shaping the natural environments where they live. Ecosystems are a complicated web where animals and plants depend on each other for survival. Ecosystems have been developing and evolving for eons. It is depressing to see humans wreck these fascinating systems in just a few decades. Disrupting the balance of ecosystems can threaten human life existence on earth. In spite of the efforts from some governments, the number of African forest elephants fell by more than 86% over a period of 31 years. The African Forest Elephant is Critically Endangered and the African Savannah Elephant is Endangered and on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.

The Asian Elephant is listed as Endangered because of a population reduction to be at least 50% over the last three generations. The biggest threat to Asian and African elephants now is habitat loss and fragmentation.

Some of the main reasons threatening the existence of elephants include:

Poaching

Elephants are most vulnerable to poaching for ivory and bush meat. Unfortunately, many people take pride in hunting elephants. Over the past 200-years ivory has become increasingly valuable. At the beginning ivory was collected from dead elephants but it pains me to say that many innocent elephants are now killed to make jewellery. It is tragic that human greed kills these creatures. I feel great sorrow looking at the unfortunate poaching events involving elephants. Recent studies show elephants have begun evolving without their beautiful tusks. Approximately thirty thousand elephants are killed every year due to poaching.

Climate change

Humans have become the most disruptive species on earth. With continuous expansion in human settlements there is a significant impact on our climate. Degrading climatic conditions are ruining the habitats of many animals and elephants are one of the most prominent species impacted. Their forests and grasslands have been cut down to expand cities and agricultural demands. Elephants are a keystone species and play a huge part in the worlds biodiversity.

Human Elephant Conflict

Expanding settlement boundaries have caused elephants to wander into human settlements. This has led humans to take drastic measure to protect their families and crops. According to WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) over 100 people and 50-80 elephants are killed in this conflict every year. It is upsetting to see humans disrupt the delicate balance and co-existence between all species.

It is not too late to stop this destruction. In my opinion education is the best way of spreading awareness. With education we can pass on a better world to our successive generations. Although I am unable to go and help the elephants in person myself, I want to sensitize others. I have been volunteering with Elephanatics for over three months. They have given me access to a wide variety of insightful learning resources. These resources have been invaluable in helping me spread awareness in my school community by distributing the lesson plans to my teachers. My social studies teacher loved the idea of including the lesson plan and he was able to share these insightful resources with his colleagues and present a lesson plan to his students.

I have tried to start a club and organize fundraiser, I was turned down by my school admin, but I did not give up and I tried by best to spread the awareness and encourage my peers in supporting this cause. I believe I can make a difference and give our future generation an opportunity to see these stunning creatures.

If you love elephants and want to help save them, please join me in spreading the word about the crises facing elephants by sharing Elephanatics petition to end the domestic trade of elephant ivory in Canada – over 687,000 people have signed this petition making it one of the largest petitions in Canada.

#IvoryFreeCanada

Thank you and I hope you will join me in trying to help these magnificent creatures.

You can contact me at:

Dhanvinraj12@gmail.com

or, feel free to contact Elephanatics at: elephanaticsinfo@gmail.com

Dhanvin

 

 

Mara Elephant Project Scholarship!

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The Fran Duthie African Elephant Conservation Scholarship

Building a Legacy of Conservation in Kenya. The Fran Duthie African Elephant Conservation Scholarship, administered by the Mara Elephant Project (MEP), is a powerful partnership between MEP and Elephanatics, a Canadian elephant advocacy organization co-founded by Fran Duthie. This scholarship is designed to build local capacity by providing financial support and practical experience to the next generation of Kenyan conservation leaders.

Scholarship Details This scholarship provides financial support to Kenyan nationals pursuing a technical certificate, undergraduate, or postgraduate degree in a field related to conservation and wildlife protection. Scholars also receive valuable hands-on experience through a required one-month internship with a Kenyan conservation organization.

See the Impact Since its launch, this scholarship has changed lives and helped secure a future for elephants. Our inaugural recipient, Janeth Jepkemboi, is currently completing her Master’s thesis with a research internship at MEP. We are also proud to support amazing students like Leshan, Mark, Mary, and Sumaiyah, who are all making a tangible impact in the field.

 

 

 

 

 

Support the Scholarship Please consider supporting these amazing students and their work. Your contribution directly funds the education of Kenyans preparing for a career in conservation, helping to ensure a thriving future for elephants, wildlife, and their habitats.

  • Application dates will be determined by Mara Elephant Project. Contact them for more information at: maraelephantproject.org

  • Please consider making a donation today (Note in the comments: “scholarship”) to support Kenyans preparing for a career in conservation.

 Updates of Current Recipients to the Fran Duthie African Elephant Scholarship

🔸 Leshan proactively pursued independent studies, utilizing online reading materials and peer discussions to advance his coursework.
🔸 Mark had the privilege of participating in the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research event held at the United Nations in Nairobi, where he participated in global discussions on sustainable agriculture, climate resilience, and biodiversity.
🔸 Mary participated in the International Women’s Day Celebration at the International Livestock Research Institute in Nairobi and connected with a lot of other impactful women working in conservation and beyond.
🔸 Sumaiyah participated in a wildlife census hosted by the Athi Kapiti Wildlife Conservancies Association and supported the draft report based on their findings.
 
The scholarship supports these amazing Kenyan students as they pursue a career in conservation. #MaraElephants #Elephanatics
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#GivingTuesday 2021 – Mara Elephant Project – Rangers

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This #GivingTuesday November 2021, Elephanatics is raising money for their partner organization, the Mara Elephant Project
Please consider purchasing of one of the items listed in the AmazonSmile Wish List. Make it a gift to give someone for the holiday season that will be appreciated and used. Let’s keep elephants safe and alive!
A great way to support Mara Elephant Project’s rangers and research department is through their AmazonSmile Wish List. Loaded with items essential to their work both in the field and in their office at headquarters, you’ll find a great, tangible way to celebrate these men and women’s work that protects elephants and their habitats in the Greater Mara Ecosystem. Featured items include Garmin watches and iReach devices used by MEP rangers to communicate back to headquarters and send location coordinates and provides them with GPS navigation. The list also includes some basic essentials like a First Aid kit, re-chargeable flashlights, binoculars and a UV protection hood and face mask perfect for working in the field under COVID conditions. So, shop now to support MEP’s rangers and research staff this holiday season.

Just Released “A Place Like No Other”

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A BIG Congratulations to Dr. Rene Beyers and Professor Tony Sinclair on their recent publication of “A Place Like No Other” by Princeton University Press.

“A Place Like No Other” is Anthony Sinclair’s firsthand account of how he and other scientists discovered the biological principles that regulate life in the Serengeti and how they rule all of the natural world. Co-authored with Dr. Rene Beyers.

A must read and a wonderful gift for the holiday season ahead!

https://lnkd.in/gD2BcRpk

#Rewilding #Biodiversity #Ecology #Ecosystems #climatechange #endangeredspecies #Serengeti #conservationeducation #conservation

 

 

 

Congratulate Mara Elephant Project 10-year Anniversary!

Published on by elephanatic

Join Elephanatics in congratulating our partner, the Mara Elephant Project (MEP) on a decade of operation today, September 12, 2021. In the last decade, MEP focused on teaching, training, and employing Maasai men and women to be first responders to save wildlife and wild spaces. Their commitment has disrupted poaching in the Greater Mara Ecosystem, protected critical forest habitat and ecologically key areas, and kept community’s farms and families safe. Elephanatics’ support has helped increase MEP’s impact and allowed them to strengthen, build and grow their decade of success. By working together, we can save wildlife and wild spaces.

Please consider a #donation to @MaraElephantProject to celebrate their 10 years of success.

#MEPKumiAnniversary

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Elephant Advocacy with Elephanatics

By: Kellie Diguangco

Elephant Advocacy with ElephanaticsElephanatics Elephant Advocacy Elephants on Parade Middle Grade Monthly Theme year_2021

March was a special month for us. Not only was it OwlCrate Jr’s 4th anniversary, we got to celebrate some of the largest animals in the world! We’ve brought along some friends to help us and you’re here too!

Elephanatics is an elephant advocacy organization based in Vancouver, BC, Canada that offers free educational programs all about elephant conservations. We spoke to President and co-founder, Fran Duthie all about how elephants fight climate change and how you can be an advocate too.

Fran: We are thrilled to be a part of your fabulous ‘Elephants on Parade‘ box! Thank you!
Kellie: Thank you! Climate change is an important issue for everyone and you share on your site that elephants help fight global warming! Can you tell us more about this?
F: The large appetites and feeding habits of African forest elephants lead to more plant mass which stores more carbon to help mitigate climate change. Our Lesson plan, One Mouthful at a Time, addresses this in detail. The graphic below illustrates their role in helping keep their ecosystems in balance by controlling the amount of C02 that gets stored and sequestered.

K: Can you share with us something unexpected you have learned about elephants that most people might not know?
F: I was fortunate enough to visit Kenya in 2019 and was overjoyed at viewing elephants in their wild, natural habitats. I was astounded at their ability to move so quietly. We were 10 feet away from a herd grazing on grasses in the savannah and they were so silent you would never have known they were there except their size gave them away!
The African elephant has 5 toenails on its front feet and 4 on its back feet. Their feet are flat because of a large pad of gristle under each heel which acts as a cushion to absorb sound and helps them to walk quietly. It was amazing to see such a huge animal – an average weight of 6,000 kg – gliding through the plains with such ease. A beautiful sight to behold.
K: Wow! The rules around hunting elephants have changed as recently as 2019. How can we learn to speak up for elephants?
Fran: Unfortunately, trophy hunting of elephants is still allowed in certain countries in Africa. Education is the best way to learn how to speak up for elephants.  Holding marches, signing petitions, writing letters to government officials asking for the trade of elephant ivory to be banned in your country, social media involvement, volunteering for an elephant organization, and sharing Elephanatics education lesson plans! These are some of the ways that can help get the word out about the crises facing both the African and Asian elephant.
K: What does becoming Elephant Ambassador for Elephantics entail?
F: It’s as easy as sending us an email saying you would like to get on board and volunteer some of your time to help us save elephants! For more information on becoming an Ambassador, you can visit our volunteer page. We look forward to hearing from you!
K: Letter writing is a great way to advocate. It’s a way most kids can feel involved and advocate, especially in this time when we are all indoors.
F: I agree. We have the lesson plan on Ivory-Free Canada but it is actually a lesson plan that teachers should do with their students. Students learn to compose letters in support of elephant conservation while recognizing letter writing is an important civic action.
It is part of the One Mouthful at a Time Lesson Plan which is a super fantastic lesson plan that deals with how elephants are allies against climate change.
K: Thank you, Fran! 
Find out more and become an elephant advocate on their website or give them a follow on Instagram here.
Our ELEPHANTS ON PARADE box is now available for purchase in our past boxes shop!
Subscribe to OwlCrate Jr today at www.owlcratejr.com!
Elephanatics Foundation - Free elephant conservation lesson plans, toolkits for teachers, and persuasive essay resources.

AFRICAN ELEPHANTS ONLY OCCUPY A FRACTION OF THEIR POTENTIAL RANGE

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In a new paper led by Mara Elephant Project‘s Director of Research and Conservation Dr. Jake Wall, new research has found that while elephants can live almost anywhere in Africa, their range is restricted by the growing human footprint and the available protected areas.

Key findings from the study include:

* In antiquity, elephants likely were extant across nearly the entire continent.
* Human activity largely shapes the behaviour and distribution of modern elephants.
* 62 % of Africa has suitable habitat for elephants, but the animals use just 17% of that habitat and are absent – for now – in the remaining 83%.
* Savannah elephants have larger ranges than forest elephants.
* Males of both savannah and forest elephants have larger ranges than females.
* Approximately 57% of the elephant range is currently outside of protected areas.
* Out of all the factors influencing elephant range, it is human influence and the amount of protected area that had the greatest effect.
* Both an ethic of human-elephant coexistence, and effective protected areas, are essential to securing their future.
Read paper here.
Elephant Range - Current Biology April 2021.mov
VIMEO.COM
Elephant Range – Current Biology April 2021.mov