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CONSERVATION MINDS BRING OPTIMISM TO BOTH

ENDANGERED SPECIES AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES

he Human Elephant to a herd of 40 elephants. In and immediately became
Foundation is making recent months these elephants the managing director of the They love, protect, and nurture
Tpositive strides in came under a destruction Human Elephant Foundation.
conservation success in order from Ezemvelo Wildlife Since those early days, the family members in the same way we
KwaZulu-Natal and beyond, because of their interference organisation has enjoyed
and through its linkages with with local communities, so the incredible success. Recently do, and educate their young with
Rewilding Africa CIC, Project Human Elephant Foundation Grant Fowlds, renowned skills to survive in the wilderness.
Rhino, CWC Projects and stepped in and purchased conservationist and director
other supporting organisations this land and secured the of Project Rhino, and David
is helping give birth to a new elephants’ tenure in their White, KZN business leader
wilderness area known as known paradise. and wildlife advocate, joined have to look into an elephant’s used as the symbol for the whole
Loziba Wildlife Reserve. the Foundation, bringing eyes to sense that we share of nature as a keystone species.
The Human Elephant with them their passion for similarities in our emotions The Foundation recognises too
Situated in the beautiful Thaka Foundation was the brainchild
Valley in northern KwaZulu- of acclaimed South African positive change, powerful and mental considerations. that successful conservation
networks, and creative funding
initiatives in natural and
Natal, Loziba is adjacent to sculptor Andries Botha, who The Human Elephant
Babanango Game Reserve, in 2009 saw an opportunity and community development Foundation has placed wilderness areas are only
possible when local communities
considerations.
another incredible rewilding through his artwork to create Botha’s life-sized elephants in
project aimed at securing land for an organisation to help The elephant is used as the prominent places around the are involved in drawing incomes
and livelihoods.
animals to live in today and thrive stimulate conversation and Foundation’s symbol due to its world helping to encourage
into the future, and for local debate encompassing topics vulnerability. Elephants are the conversations around the The Human Elephant
communities to benefit through such as earth’s fragile ecology, world’s largest land mammal, precarious state of our planet. Foundation has been involved
tourism by providing services disintegrating human value with incredible wisdom and The concept was successful in many efforts over the years.
within these wildlife reserves. systems, xenophobia, human strength, and yet fragile in their and has helped ignite One successful project has
conflict, the disintegrating ability to co-exist with humans innovation and creativity to been Roving Reporters. This
Initial steps in the family unit, human and in our fast-changing world. foster understanding of the organisation is run by veteran
development of Loziba as a animal rights, endangered Elephants are incredibly similar importance and value of caring journalist Fred Kockott with
sanctuary for elephant, rhino, natural resources, and the to humans. They love, protect, for and promoting conservation friends and associates. It is
and other endangered species
have been the purchase of a global migration and refugee and nurture family members and rewilding activities. committed to publishing
environmental stories of
in the same way we do, and
crisis. Botha approached
pristine farm called Zoekmij. The Human Elephant
This natural bushveld his good friend, high-profile educate their young with skills Foundation is not only both uplifting and depressing
to survive in the wilderness.
business leader John Charter
nature. At the heart of Roving
stretching some 3 600 hectares concerned with elephants but
is in the heart of Loziba and to join him in this important They also mourn the passing nature as a whole. Elephants are Reporters is the notion of
training young people in
work. Charter was delighted,
of family and friends. We only
has for many years been home at the sharp end of change and

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