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Save the Elephants - Iain
and Oria Douglas-Hamilton
www.savetheelephants.com
Click
here for the latest elephant news
Dr. Iain Douglas-Hamilton's pioneering study
of elephants (Loxodonta africana) in Tanzania
in the 1960's paved the way for elephant research
and conservation projects today. After several
years studying elephants in the field, Iain realized
that all the knowledge gathered in research was
of little value if elephants disappeared. Conservation
of elephants became his mission and passion. During
the 1970's, he researched the status of elephants
throughout Africa and was the first to respond
to the devastating increase in poaching of elephants
for ivory. His work was instrumental in bringing
about the worldwide ban on ivory. Iain and his
wife, Oria, are also co-authors of two award-winning
books, "Among the Elephants" and "Battle for the
Elephants," and have made numerous television
films on elephants and Africa.
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Save the Elephants (STE) works in several countries
throughout Africa. Collaboration with local people,
elephant experts and explorers helps promote an
understanding of this very intelligent and sentient
animal, as well as emphasizing the elephant's
important role in the ecosystem and the value
of conserving the habitat it shares with a variety
of animal species and humans.
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To conserve these large, roaming animals, Iain
Douglas-Hamilton and his collaborators look at
the situation from the elephant's point of view
to determine what is needed. Researchers track
elephants during their long distance movements
by radio collars, using GPS in a recently developed
system. Individual elephants are also observed
on a daily basis to better understand patterns
of behavior. STE is collaborating with other scientists
to combine all information collected into a database
for elephant research and conservation. To protect
the elephants, STE supports and develops alternative
methods of sport hunting that retain the thrill
of the hunt but do not harm the elephants.
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Education and grassroots community involvement
play a major role in the elephants' future. An
"Elephant Library" with over 3,000 documents on
all aspects of elephants is available to scientists
and schoolchildren alike. STE was the scientific
advisor for the recent IMAX film, "Africa's Elephant
Kingdom," which carried the message of the elephant
across the continents. But this success would
not be possible without the knowledge and guidance
of the Samburu and Maasai people of the area.
The conservation programs build on the relationships
between these people and the wildlife that share
their land. Save the Elephants' mission to develop
a tolerant relationship between elephants and
humans will help to secure a place for all in
the future.
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