A few months ago, we told you about the terrible slaughter of Zimbabwe’s lake elephants and the efforts of the Bumi Hills Anti-Poaching Unit (BHAPU) to protect the last of these magnificent creatures.

BHAPU is a small, committed team that put their lives on the line every day. But now, the team, and the animals they protect, are in trouble!

Their anti-poaching boat is out of commission and without it, there is no one to patrol the waters of the vast Lake Kariba, where poachers pose as local fishermen. We must urgently raise $5,500 (£4,100) to repair the boat before poachers take advantage of its absence!

65% of BHAPU’s arrests are made by boat!
For the sake of the elephants, we MUST get the team back on the water NOW!

Poachers killed 75% of the majestic lake elephants. But then, BHAPU was formed to defend them. This expertly trained team has been successful in protecting these iconic creatures for years, but without their boat, they have lost their first line of defense.

Lake Kariba, the largest man-made lake in the world, is used as a highway for illegal wildlife smuggling. The lake forms 140 miles (220 kilometers) of the international border between Zimbabwe and Zambia. Poachers and smugglers take advantage of the difficulty of patrolling this enormous stretch of water and regularly move wildlife contraband across the lake. With BHAPU’s operations limited to the land, smugglers are now free to move with little fear of being caught.

We have promised to send help, but we need your support.
Please donate generously today to get BHAPU back on the water!

The anti-poaching boat has been an important tool in protecting these animals for over 25 years. But thousands of operations and chases have battered the boat badly, causing the fiberglass hull to collapse completely. Only the support of animal lovers like you can keep these elephants safe.

Elephants are highly intelligent, emotional beings who form strong bonds with each other. They protect each other fiercely and mourn the deaths of their kin for months, even years. Across the African continent, these animals are in peril. Poaching, habitat loss and climate change threaten their survival as a species, making every single elephant population a priority for conservation. Please, help us protect the last of the lake elephants!

Without their boat, BHAPU is unable to respond to wildlife emergencies!

BHAPU must often respond to wildlife emergencies where animals’ lives are imminently at stake. Snared animals, human-wildlife conflict incidents and trapped baby animals all rely on the BHAPU team to come to their rescue. But without their boat, the team must travel by land – and many of these animals won’t survive long enough for them to make the long arduous journey across miles of rugged terrain. Please, for the animals, donate generously today!