We told you of our battle to save one of Namibia’s last free-roaming elephant herds. These elephants are at terrible risk because drought is forcing them to move from a safe haven to areas where their lives are under threat.
We asked for your help, and you responded magnificently.
Some 20 elephants with calves have taken refuge on a 20,000-acre (8,000-hectare) preservation area, where they are safe. All the other land in the area is used by hunters, and the elephants are in danger when they enter these zones. But water holes on the preservation area have just about run dry. If we don’t solve this problem, the vulnerable family of elephants will be forced to continue seeking water in places where their freedom and survival is at stake.
Thanks to our supporters swiftly donating funds, we were able to pay for a drilling company to search for underground water for the elephants. But this is harsh, dry African terrain, and finding water is no easy task. After striking nothing but hard granite in our first attempt, another site was chosen for drilling.
This time, there were technical challenges, and the drill bit broke as we struck water! We thought all was lost and began planning ways to truck in vast amounts of water for the elephants. But, to our relief, overnight, water began to flow! It’s not a very strong flow, but it’s a promising start.
Before we drill deeper, our hydrologist advised that we have the water tested for contamination to make sure it is safe for elephants to drink. In Namibia, things work at a slower pace than many other places in the world, so please bear with us. The test results take up to a week to be confirmed. We promise to keep you updated.
If we get confirmation that the water is potable, we will finish drilling the borehole and begin pumping fresh water into water holes. If the water is not good for elephant consumption, we will start drilling at a new site. But no matter what, we are not giving up!
Again, we are deeply grateful to our caring supporters who have already donated. Not many people can boast that they helped save an elephant family! The elphants are not safe yet, so if you can donate, please do, because the survival of these creatures still hangs in the balance.
Over past decades, not only drought but hunting, ivory poaching and habitat loss have been rapidly pushing elephants towards extinction. If the water flows – and we believe it will – there is one entire elephant family that will live to breed another day.