The new president may have a different approach to protecting the elephant herds of Botswana.

For the last two years, we have fought to save 100 elephants in South Africa from bing shot dead by hunters. We were sanguine about rescuing them because of our superb relationship with the Republic of Botswana. Now that may have all changed.

The former president, His Excellency Serêtsê Khama Ian Khama, was sympathetic to our rescue efforts and helped us establish rapport at the highest levels of the his government. Because of his generous assistance, we were able to arrange for a new range land within Botswana where the elephants would be relocated. The precise latitude and longitude were determined. Logisitcs were being considered and planned. The finest wildlife team members possible were being assembled; these were professionals with decades of experience in the translocation mega fauna.

But with the new administration came new minsters and officials. And so, all of our contacts are gone.

This is significant because of a dynamic called TIA (This Is Africa). Even in Botswana, the finest country in all of Africa, TIA means that everything takes more time and effort than in non-African nations. Moreover, His Excellency, President Masisi may not want another 100 elephants in Botswana where the overpopulation is often problematic.

Thus, after two years of hard work and diplomacy, it appears that we must start again from scratch.

If we hope to save this big herd from the hunter’s bullet, we must get started now. The next two months are critical to the success of this rescue.

Our rescue of a big herd looks good but we have much hard work ahead of us. Here are some of those challenging tasks.

We must gain governmental approval, including approval from CITES, which is the international wildlife trade agreement between governments.

The logistics of this rescue must also be thoughtfully planned among wildlife professionals. Fortunately, we have a world class wildlife team to call upon who are, literally, among the finest in the world. This logistical equation that stands before us includes many components such as reserving cranes, helicopters and a significant fleet of heavy transport vehicles. Organizing veterinarians, medical personnel and supplies are essential, as well.

And, of course, we must raise the money to pay for this expensive equipment and these supplies.

Once we have formal approval from the government that will receive these elephants, we must create a well documented video describing this rescue. We feel that openly telling the story of this rescue in a quality video, and several other videos, is essential.

Our goal will then be to raise $100,000 on the internet, which is half of the amount needed to rescue these elephants. Upon reaching this target, we will seek big donors to match this amount to reach the goal of $200,000 needed.

This is only $2,500 for each elephant, which I feel is a cost well worth saving an elephant.

Although hunters probably won’t kill babies like this, it is quite likely that, should they lose their mothers from the hunter’s bullet, they will die from a broken heart, which so often happens in these instances.

After several months of focusing on finding a proper home for the herd of 80 elephants who must be moved from their present home in South Africa, I have a victory to share.

While we have known the general area and country where we had hoped to relocate the herd, now we know the precise location of what may be their new home. So we have more confidence that the government of that country is openly working with us to graciously welcome this imperiled herd into their country.

This is a big step! Particularly, since a Culling Permit to kill them was approved some time ago and will be most definitely implemented unless they are moved.

World class experts on the ground have identified a area in which plenty of food and water is available. The climate and terrain is excellent. There is neither a hunting nor a poaching threat. Moreover, we can transport the entire herd by truck, rather than air cargo planes, which I had previously anticipated.

I am keeping this location a secret for now because several individuals and hunting organizations want our plans to fail. But we can’t let the hunters win this battle!

You can be sure it’s going to be a tough fight.

So I am focusing all my attention on raising the money to fund this urgent rescue.

It has been estimated by specialist who have decades of experience moving elephants that the cost will be approximately $200,000 or only $2,500 for each elephant. I feel this is an exceptional bargain.

We simply can’t make this happen without your help. So, please consider being a part of this urgent rescue by making a generous donation today.

Click here to give $125 to $5,000

Or here to make a donation of $30 to $100

Did you know that less than .05 percent of public charities receive the Gold Seal of Transparency from GuideStar?

Time Magazine says, “GuideStar has grown into the nation’s premier nonprofit database.” In fact, GuideStar is now the world’s largest source of information on nonprofit organizations. GuideStar’s Mission: To revolutionize philanthropy by providing information that advances transparency, enables users to make better decisions, and encourages charitable giving.

Unlike wild dogs or cats who roam in packs, elephants live together in extraordinarily close families, much closer than ours. In fact a mother and baby are inseparable all their lives. So, grandmothers, mothers, babies and grand babies never leave one another’s side. The bulls are more independent yet will valiantly protect their families with their lives. For these reasons and many more, killing one of them is considered murder by informed people.

You may be able to save the lives of several elephants in just a few minutes.

Read this important article by clicking here.

Then please call your congressional representatives as soon as you are able and ask them to stop all imports of elephants killed in Zimbabwe and Zambia.

You can find your representatives by clicking here.

Phone calls are more effective than emails, faxes or letters. So, please use this method and always be extremely polite and informed.

Senators and congressmen closely monitor the response of their constituents so contacting them about this matter is clearly worth the few minutes required to read the above article, find your representatives in the included list and make a short phone call.

Remember, they want to know what’s on your mind so call today.

The elephants thank you!

I have been fighting since early summer of this year to stop a scene like this from happening to the 80 elephants who we must save. I consider the individual pictured above to be a murderer. And I am doing everything I can to stop the mass murder of these 80 elephants. Please fight this battle with me by making a generous donation today!

I’ve just received word that hunters are pushing to kill the 80 elephants we are trying to rescue. The Republic of South Africa has approved the Elephant Management Plan in which all 80 will be shot dead. This culling permit was given the OK several months ago. But now we are competing more directly with hunters who want to kill them.

Here is the problem: adult elephants eat approximately 660 pounds of food every day. Multiply this by 80 elephants and you have 52,800 pounds of food daily. That’s 26.4 tons of trees, roots and other plants each day or 9,636 tons every year!

And, other animals must eat, too. So, there is keen competition for survival among them.

Miraculously, I may have found a home for all 80 elephants!

Their new potential home has plenty of food, water, an excellent climate and terrain. There are no poachers and hunting is strictly outlawed with deadly force. We are working with local government officials to determine the exact area where they will be settled and hope to have this identified soon.

We must raise at least $200,000 for the relocation, which is only $2,500 for each elephant. This is a bargain!

I’m in touch with the man who oversees the nature reserve where the herd of 80 elephants live, communicating with him by phone and email. He has been extremely helpful. It’s often necessary to talk by phone and these calls to him and other parties involved are becoming expensive.

Perhaps, this is cost you’d like to help us with. We’ve made giving both easy and safe.

Simply press the orange donate button at the top of this page and select the amount you wish to give.

I thank you – and the elephants especially thank you!

These are some of the elephants who are to be killed.

A culling permit to kill 80 elephants has been submitted to the Republic of South Africa.

I have asked one of the foremost wildlife authorities in the world to oversee this rescue. He rescued a large herd a few years ago, which was featured in a National Geographic television special.

I feel, however, the best alternative may be to introduce a reforestation plan to the ecosystem where they are located so they won’t need to be moved at all. This will preclude extreme trauma from the ordeal of being hoisted by helicopter to an airport where a cargo plane will transport them further. And, equally important, it will keep them together as a family, which is essential to their psychological well being.

Either way, I am certain we will make the decision that is best for these endangered elephants.

So, please take a moment to help by donating here.

The elephants thank you!