elephant

An incredible campaign has been launched to help protect our elephants and our heritage. Name them to save them. A simple way to do good!

 

There are less than 400 000 African elephants left and with one lost every 15 minutes of every day to ivory poaching, experts indicate that this species will be extinct by 2030.

To protect Africa’s heritage, Amarula has joined forces with Kenyan-based conservation organisation WildlifeDirect, working closely with their CEO, Dr. Paula Kahumbu.

The Amarula campaign, ‘Name Them Save Them’, makes the prospect of losing an African elephant personal to viewers, by inviting them to name the surviving elephants. Kahumbu, who is internationally acknowledged for her conservation work, appears in a video shot on location in the Amboseli Park – Kenya, in front of Mount Kilimanjaro.

She introduces viewers to elephants by name, showcasing their behaviour in their natural habitat, likening their traits to those of humans. The short film, shot by Felix Seuffert from Butterfly Films, has been specifically filmed to raise awareness of the plight of the African elephant.

Viewers will be guided through an immersive online experience into a virtual digital savannah, where they can choose an elephant, design it with a range of colourful patterns, then name and share it with friends online.

“The African elephant is an integral part of our African heritage and culture. Just like humans, each elephant is an individual with a unique personality. We share many similarities with elephants. They are intelligent, emotional and have a strong sense of family – just like us.”

“This campaign is about creating a connection between us and elephants and becoming actively involved in raising awareness and saving our elephants. By getting to know elephants by name, we want people to realise that they are more important than an ivory trinket. They say an elephant never forgets, but now they need us to remember them,” says Kahumbu.

In addition to funding this global campaign, Amarula will donate $1 to WildlifeDirect for every elephant named, and shared per unique user. As an authentically African brand, Amarula has been committed to the protection of the African elephant since 2002 and has donated $642 000 to the cause over this period.

“Awareness created by this campaign, combined with the expertise of Dr Paula Kahumbu and the WildlifeDirect team, will help us continue to protect the continent’s elephants that are such an important part of Africa’s heritage and Amarula’s story,” says Dino D’Araujo, Amarula global general manager.

“Our objective is simple – to make sure that for generations to come, we continue to meet the elephants beneath the Marula trees.”

For more information, click here. Alternatively, connect with them on Facebook or on Twitter.


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Sources: Amarula

About the Author

Brent Lindeque is the founder and editor in charge at Good Things Guy.

Recognised as one of the Mail and Guardian’s Top 200 Young South African’s as well as a Primedia LeadSA Hero, Brent is a change maker, thought leader, radio host, foodie, vlogger, writer and all round good guy.

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