There are actually two elephants in Africa: the African Forest Elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) found in the rainforests of West and Central Africa, and the more familiar African Savanna Elephant (Loxodonta africana) which is found throughout sub-Saharan Africa. These giant pachyderms are perhaps the continent’s most iconic species, and yet both populations are in decline with the Forest Elephant classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN and the Savanna as Endangered.
It is the African Savanna Elephant that occurs in the areas we operate, so that’s the species our own conservation efforts focus upon.
The Savanna Elephant is the largest species of elephant, and anyone who’s seen one will attest that they really are as enormous as your childhood imagination led you to believe. They’re also crucial to the ecosystems in which they exist, serving as very efficient gardeners and ensuring that tree density is kept under control so that other flora and fauna can thrive in the savanna and woodland they inhabit.
Savanna elephants face numerous threats, many of which stem from escalating human–elephant conflict. One of the most well-known is the illegal ivory trade. Despite a global CITES ban on the sale of elephant ivory since 1990, demand persists — and tens of thousands of elephants are still poached each year to supply it (WWF, n.d.).
However, the threat to elephants extends beyond ivory. As human populations expand, elephants increasingly find themselves in close proximity to villages and farmland. Their sheer size makes them capable of significant damage — from trampling crops to destroying infrastructure — often just by following their natural movements. Many of their traditional migratory routes now intersect with human settlements, turning everyday journeys into dangerous encounters for both people and elephants. These conflicts not only heighten tension but also make elephants vulnerable to retaliatory killings.
We are addressing elephant conservation with a multi-faceted approach:
Youth Education Projects
A crucial component of conservation is education, and we work with a number of like-minded partners to deliver engaging education that teaches young people living near wildlife areas about the value and conservation of the wildlife and habitats around them.
Lessons In Conservation is one such organisation operating in Botswana, raising awareness about conservation in rural communities across Africa. We also work with Elephants for Africa on an Environmental Club which sheds light on the relevance of the wildlife that passes through the local village to Meno a Kwena.
Another partner of ours, Wild Shots Outreach, takes a slightly different approach and uses photography to not only progress children’s potential but also encourage appreciation of the wildlife local to them. Coaching Conservation meanwhile, use sport to get the message across to kids in wildlife adjacent areas, and we support their work through funding and access.
Over in Namibia, the world of conservation is opened up by our partner KEEP programme which is designed and implemented by the Giraffe Conservation Foundation and connects children from urban primary schools with nature, nurturing an interest in the environment.
Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation
When humans and elephants compete for space and resources, conflict between the two is inevitable. Because of this, we’ve funded the Botswana Predator Conservation (BPC) BioBoundary Project which investigates the efficacy of plant-based airborne elephant repellents to help protect crops and infrastructure.
Humans and elephants themselves are kept safe through our Elephant Express buses. We work with EcoExist and the Okavango Community Trust to run these buses, with insurance sponsored by SATIB and the Botswana Insurance Company. The three buses provide safe transportation for school children and clinic patients through an elephant corridor.
Further to this we work alongside Elephants for Africa to collar and monitor elephants, and also to help communities elephant proof their livelihoods. We’re also partners on the Living with Wildlife Strategy Workshops in Moreomaoto Village.
Anti-Poaching
The fight against poaching is ongoing, and we’re well equipped to deal with it. Concern for the wildlife in Khwai Private Reserve led us to ensure rangers in the Khwai Private Reserve Anti-Poaching team are fully equipped. Radios, tablets, drones and even motorbikes help the ranger team to be as effective on the ground as possible and we’ve invested heavily in their training too so they’re prepared at all times.
The status of a species is always evolving, and by supporting organizations and individuals who share our values, we remain ready to meet the changing conservation needs of the African Savanna elephant.
