Network For Animals Logo
Network For Animals Logo
  • Home
  • How we take action
  • News
  • About
  • Contact
Menu
  • Home
  • How we take action
  • News
  • About
  • Contact
Donate now
  • How we take action
  • Testimonials
  • News
  • About
  • Contact
  • Donate
Menu
  • How we take action
  • Testimonials
  • News
  • About
  • Contact
  • Donate

Mission Jumbo: The elephant countdown. Two days to go.

  • August 3, 2018
  • News
  • South Africa

In two days, Network for Animals will begin moving a family of 27 elephants to wilderness that last saw elephants more than 150 years ago. Their new home in the north of the Addo National Park in South Africa is in an area where they will be able to breed safely, far from deadly poaching areas.

The helicopters have arrived, the game capture team is in position. So far so good. It’s the middle of winter and its cold in South Africa’s Addo National Park where the elephants live. There’s tension in the air because what we are about to do is difficult and a little dangerous. If it rains the whole operation has to be postponed and that would be very costly. We are all a little nervous.

But it will be worth it because we are helping elephants. The United Nations estimates that 100 elephants are killed in Africa by poachers every day. If poaching is not stopped elephants could be extinct in the wild in the next decade. The population has fallen by 110,000 over the last 10 years to just 415,000 in the whole of Africa.

Mission Jumbo

“It is a proud moment for NFA,” said David Barritt, NFA’s campaign director. “At a time when the United Nations estimates that 100 elephants are killed in Africa by poachers every day, we are doing something that should make sure elephants are safe in the wild.

Poachers kill elephants for their tusks which are then carved into trinkets for tourists. In South Africa most of the poachers cross the unguarded border from Mozambique, shoot elephants and hack off their tusks before fleeing back across the border.

Addo is a 1000 miles from Mozambique border and the elephants new home is in an isolated area far from main roads.

At the moment, the elephants live in Addo’s main area which is separated from the new area by railways and roads. Network for Animals has worked with South African National Parks to safely move the elephants by road to an area where elephants once roamed before being wiped out by hunters. They have to be moved in a family group which means that we are moving the matriarch (elephant families are always headed by one female) young bulls and cows and youngster plus the very important older bull whose job it is to make babies.

The process started two months ago when Addo rangers identified a suitable family group and herded them by helicopter to an area which was then temporarily fenced. In three days’ time, the family will be darted from helicopters, loaded on to trucks and driven to the new area.

By supporting our work, you are reaching out with caring hands to stop animal abuse

Please donate now
Stay up to date

Stay up to date

Share on facebook
Share on google
Share on twitter
Share on whatsapp

How to Ease Your Dog’s Separation Anxiety

Does your happy-go-lucky dog turn into a bundle of nerves every time you leave him alone? He may be suffering from separation anxiety. If your

24 February 2021

Why Your Dog Goes Gaga Over Baby-talk

Are you looking for ways to build a better relationship with your dog? Research has found that the best way to gain your pooch’s love

23 February 2021

Your Cat’s Purring Doesn’t Always Mean They’re Happy!

When it comes to sounds we delight in hearing, again and again, a cat purring contently while he or she gets a much-deserved ear scratch

19 February 2021

New South Wales Parliament Unleashes Harsher Penalties For Animal Cruelty In Australia

Several changes to animal cruelty legislation have been proposed in the New South Wales Parliament. Abusers caught committing acts of cruelty to animals will now

17 February 2021

Help us fight cruelty to animals around the world

Click here to donate

Network for Animals

Network for Animals is a non-government, international animal welfare organisation crusading for animals around the world.

© Network for Animals
Privacy policy

Campaigns

Cats In Crisis Disaster Relief Dogs In Distress Elephants Hunting with Hounds Organized Horse Fighting Seal Hunt Worldwide Donkey Crisis

Stay up to date

Receive our regular emails about our campaigns for animals around the world.

Sign up

Stay up to date with our campaigns

Contact us

+1 727 599 8148
+44 (0)20 8471 7666
info@networkforanimals.org

Facebook-f
Twitter
Youtube
Instagram
Linkedin

This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.

I agree