Elephants Alive scoops awards

They were the only Limpopo finalist and they came tops by winning gold in the EcoConservation category for their Elephants Alive Project. The director, co-founder and principal research, Dr Michelle Henley also scored a silver in the eco angel category.

The Eco-Logic Awards are environmental awards that recognises individuals, businesses and communities doing good work for the environment. The awards were strategically aligned with the COP 26 summit and were not only aimed at highlighting the urgency of action required to combat climate change but to challenge leaders to do more. According to the Eco-Logic Awards founder and director, David Parry-Davies, the conservation of the planet relies on meaningful behavioural change.

We can’t just wait for things to change, moreover, we can’t keep doing the same thing and expect different results. This is what makes the work of all our eco-logic awards participants so important. They play a critical role in making a tangible difference in our day-to-day lives,” he said.

To ensure conservation success, and the long-term preservation of free-ranging elephants, Elephants Alive believes it is critical to empower, inform and involve local impoverished communities. They have run various programmes with local communities, which include the Ndlopfu Gogos (elephant grandmothers ), Black Mambas and Wild Shots Outreach. The Ndlopfu Gogos were introduced as part of Elephant Alives’ community awareness programme. They introduce the grannies from local communities to study their elephants.

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“Elephants Alive, through the Ndlopfu Gogo programme, creates opportunities for the ‘elephant grandmothers’ to connect with elephant matriarchs (older elephant cows) and mentors (older elephant bulls). “We specifically chose gogos that are linked to the protected areas through their employed relatives as the only criteria and we introduce them to elephants we have studied for many years,” said Elephant Alive.

Every year they target about 60 gogos and with their monthly programme, the gogos’ gentle wisdom rekindle a new sense of hope for conservation. Meanwhile, a programme for the 22 all-female Black Mamba Anti-Poaching Unit is aimed at empowering black women to keep bees and adopt permaculture practices to develop three garden types (food, medicinal to treat ailments in isolated areas, and elephant unpalatable crops).

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According to Elephant Alive, beekeeping in conjunction with permaculture practices will increase the pollination services and productivity of the crops. “In the process they have a ready market for their products (pure honey, lip balms, honey-infused soaps and food wax wraps as well as food produce) obtained by these activities,” Elephants Alive said in a statement. “Through the programme, the women increase their skill sets while earning extra income from honey wax products, and improving their food security, as well as serving as inspirational role models in their communities.”

Elephant Alive said their partnership with Wild Shots Outreach, a local NGO, have engaged young people from disadvantaged communities in wildlife and wild places through photography. The programme prioritises high school students from government schools and the young unemployed bordering Kruger National Park. “This is the first time that these young people have had the opportunity to visit a game reserve and connect with their natural heritage.

“We work with Wild Shots Outreach, particularly in communities where there is a conflict with elephants. “Together we have delivered photo exhibitions and have invited young students to photograph elephant collaring operations, snare removals and the gogos programme.”