My voice is hoarse, my throat hates most food and my eyes are...actually awake. I awaken to a new day here in Seattle, and looking towards to news of what the 12th man did last night to soon grace my news feed.
But outside of that, Washington is slowly digging itself out of the winter slump of super cold and super damp to just cold and damp with random pockets of sunshine. A good sign for us and the ongoing new years of what we have to look forward to.
As the year begins there is much to consider, and where we are right now is no difference. Recently in the past few months I've been trying harder with making my ends meet, while still providing donations to wonderful groups. Slowly in time I've been paying off debts that have accumulated in the past years. Because of that, I've become slightly more enlightened towards money and truly the effect that it has.
Which brings me to this blog posting and the reasoning behind it.
This blog posting is about raising awareness and more love for the large and in charge elephant.
Outside what I've learned from the zoo and what I generally remember from biology classes, I don't know much about elephants. Which is one of the many things that triggered my interest in covering a posting about such creatures.
My other interest was in painting them, by painting I can get a feel for the animal and in turn gain more an interest. Something that has spurred me on to learning more about the great non profit and what they do for the case of the elephant.
The group that I will be writing about is the International Elephant Foundation or IEF.
IEF is a Texas based on profit group that focuses it's attention on research, conservation and education in both Africa and Asia, to help support the preservation of these species.
IEF ensures that 90+% of each dollar donated goes straight to a program.
IEF was Created in 1998 by Michael Fouraker, Executive Director of the Fort Worth Zoo. Once a successful member of the IRF (International Rhino Foundation) he was frustrated by the lack of funding made available for elephant conservation programs. Believing that the template of IRF could be used for multiple elephant facilities to contribute to the long-term preservation of elephants.
IEF's Mission is to, support and operate elephant conservation and education programs in managed facilities and in the wild, with emphasis on management, protection and scientific research.
Since 1998 IEF has provided support to over 80 elephant conservation programs worldwide and $2 million dollars in direct financial assistance. These programs are in both Asia and Africa, helping support patrols against the ivory trade in Africa to conservation efforts in SE Asia.
Their programs are as such.
In Africa, there are a number of programs that are supported by this group including:
Mounted patrols that take daily patrols throughout forest reserves in Kenya and adjoining areas. Helping reduce poaching for both elephants and smaller animals in these reserves. The money provided also helped supply the horses for patrols, as well as the housing made available for the horses and the continued funding for this program. The mounted patrol removes snares and eve assists in arrests involving poaching in the forest reserve.
My Elephant Neighbor is an education program created to help ensure that children are exposed to elephants in a positive manner. Ensuring that the children of today will hopefully be the conservationists of tomorrow. Programs such as these help ensure that children appreciate these creatures and gain intimate knowledge of these animals and their habitat.
IEF supports many anti-poaching projects all over Africa, ensuring that the poaching and illegal trade of ivory stops.
In Asia they have a number of programs designed to ensure the protection of elephants that are used for both tourism and logging.
Through DEAR or Domesticated Elephant Advanced Registration, a program initiated in Laos where 460 elephants are apart of the domesticated population. By creating an computerized elephant registry it enables the best healthcare, registration and employment for both elephants and their owners. While logging all of the health issues an elephant has had and all the accidents that have occurred. They are also looking towards micro chipping the entire domesticated population, making for easier management. Something that 5 out of 13 elephant range countries has accomplished so far.
They also have funded the Kouprey Express Program, an education program outreach to rural schoolchildren and communities in Cambodia. By helping change peoples opinion
In the 153 days spent in Koh Kong Province focusing on 23 target schools and communities. 85 classes were taught with 2,37 students between 4th to 6th grade and 175 teachers. There were 9 field excursions to the wildlife refuge center with 500 students, 50 teachers and 50 community members. With also 1,308 grade 1-3 students participating in art-based environmental curriculum, tree planting and other environmental education activities.
They also help fund research projects to help aid in the fight to TB or Tuberculosis, disease that effects both captive and wild elephants. By sharing information and collaborate on detecting, diagnosing, treating and ultimately reducing the impact of this disease.
Research is also being used to try and understand as well as help cure EEHV or Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesviruses. Which is the leading cause of reproductive failure as well as neonatal and juvenile deaths in Asian elephants. Something that I feel that Seattle and Washington has known all too well.
In the year 2000 I remember that we had our first ever born baby elephant born to the Woodland Park Zoo. I remember watching the news, hearing about zoo attendance, and the naming competition. I remember very little about the news regarding the elephants, but I remember the name Hansa. I remember the day she was born and the day she died, only 6 1/2 years later in 2007. Only 4 days before I graduated.It was later discovered that Hansa had died from a new strain of herpes, one that didn't warrant the regular symptoms that is apparent in elephants with herpes. Out of the 18 cases of herpes that have been reported since 1983 only 3 have survived in North America. Something that young elephants under the age of 10 are at greater risk of contracting.
This disease does so much damage to elephants and is deadly in most instances. Which is the reason why there is such a high need to try and cure this disease. For it is in both captive and wild elephants, hindering their abilities to reproduce and keep a sustainable population and away from endangerment.
If you're looking to Donate to this group you can do a few things as well.
You can choose a Level of support.
Or you can simply Donate. Nothing too grandiose, just cut and dry like that.
For the benefit of trying to donate more I painted an elephant in hopes to try an raise more money for this organization. To say the least it worked.
I painted an elephant and sold it for $50 allowing more money to be put towards the conservation efforts in Africa.
From my own money I will be donating $40 hoping that someday we can help cure this horrible disease that effects so many captive and wild elephants around the world.
In hopes for the future.
- Amanda.
