AMARULA (DISTELL NAMIBIA) INCREASES SUPPORT FOR ELEPHANT HUMAN RELATION AID

Amarula has agreed to continue supporting the EHRA (Elephant Human Relations Aid) project in the southern Kunene and northern Erongo regions. This international brand, through the Amarula Trust, continues to support elephant conservation as well as highlighting the importance of activities affecting fauna and flora across southern Africa.

Amarula can be assured that its renewed twelve month commitment to EHRA (Namibia) will be put to good use. Initially the donation was intended for adopting eleven elephants but the number has since increased to twelve. Through the Amarula Trust the focus is on elephanthuman migration strategies and this donation has mutual benefits.

It is EHRA’s mission to minimize the pressure on rural communities living with desert-dwelling elephants and to ensure the animals’ long-term survival through a communitybased holistic approach, which includes education, research, development and physical protection methods.

Together with the Ministry of Environment, EHRA welcomes volunteer students on working holidays.

Some of the existing projects which EHRA manages are:

Elephant Movement & ID Study – We track and monitor the elephants of the southern Kunene and northern Erongo regions. We believe that accurate data on elephant ID, numbers and movements are paramount to effective and sustainable elephant conservation and conflict management.

Education & Training – The PEACE Project (People and Elephants Amicably Co-Existing) arranges seminars that focus on empowering community members, tour guides, conservancy game guards, school learners and teachers with knowledge of elephant behaviour so that they can stay safe during elephant visits and live without fear.

Water Point Protection – Teams of volunteers work directly with the local communities to protect vulnerable water storage facilities by building stone walls around them. This allows the elephants to drink but prevents them from damaging tanks, pumps, windmills or pipes. Since 2001 we have made over 250 water storage facilities elephant-proof.

Beverly Jandrell