Special friends of ours sent a letter describing an adventure they have undertaken that we can believe in. Send some support if you can!
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Dear Robert and Laura,
From 3rd to 9th October, Mark and Margie, will be trekking, 140 kms in the Namibian desert - to raise funds for EHRA.
EHRA is a not for profit organisation based in Namibia (registration no. 21/2003/603) and established in December 2001. Successful conservation has seen the population of desert dwelling elephants grow from 52 to a population of over 600. However, competition for water between the elephants and the subsistence farmers with cattle, goats, and sheep, has escalated causing great conflict.
This conflict resulted in over 17 bull elephants being shot from 2006-2008 either as trophy permits or mainly as ‘problem animals’, resulting in a situation where there is only one breeding bull remaining in the Ugab River area – a bull known as Voortrekker. This bull’s trophy permit was purchased from the community through the funds raised by the 2008 EHRA trek. In order to help the government manage the desert elephants in a more effective manner, EHRA has proposed to collar the remaining bulls at its own expense, to provide accurate data and therefore evidence, to disprove or substantiate any ‘problem animal ‘claims.
Raising money to take part on this trek will directly pay for the collaring of these bulls, starting with Voortrekker. (each collar costs
US$ 3000,00 & we are paying R10 000,00 each to participate) The donations will make a very real difference to the future of the desert elephant population, alongside improving the lives of many communities by helping EHRA promote a future where these very special elephants can live in harmony with the local farmers.
Please could you sponsor us, or just give a donation, small beginnings can have powerful endings, any amount will make a difference. Please let us know if you do decide to also help, as we would like to send you more information about how we do, how many blisters we got, how much whisky was required to keep us going, and some photographs of the stunning scenery (not necessarily us!!)
For more information visit www.desertelephant.org
Bank Details: M Macduff Standard Bank Killarney Branch
Branch Code:00-72-05-35 Acc No: 001661833
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