Volunteer Programmes Latest News - Elephant Human Relations Aid

Trekking for the Elephants 2009
Posted on: Tuesday 17th Feb @ 04:47 (-0800)
Hi everyone, The first group of volunteers arrived last Monday and are having fun rain dodging! The desert is looking green and beautiful and the elephants are up to mischief on the farms, having moved out of the riverbed as the rains have started. We have places on all our volunteer trips still so you if you would like to join us or know of anyone who might please tell them to drop me and email elephant@iway.na The other news is that we are running TWO fundraising treks this year to raise funds for our collaring programme. The aim is to collar up to 10 bulls, starting with Voortrekker - the last bull of breeding age in the area - whose life was saved thanks to the funds raised by the 2008 trek group. Collaring these bulls is an integral programme in EHRA's strategy to improve the management and conservation of the desert elephants and to ensure that trophy hunting is abolished in our area. Each collaring operation costs in excess of $8000US. The trek route takes you through some of the most beautiful areas in Damaraland with jaw dropping scenery and awe inspiring sunsets. It is unlikely that you will see any other people for the entire week and will therefore understand why it is believed to be one of the last wilderness areas left on earth. The trek is designed to be challenging but as long as you are fairly fit and healthy you will be fine. You can see photos of previous treks on our web site We would love for you to join us and promise you fantastic memories, new friendships and not to mention alot of fun and great food along the way! Dates are: 3rd - 9th October 2009 Distance: 141kms Fundraising target/cost: 1000 Pounds sterling which includes all transfers, accomodation and food but excludes flights. For those who would like to see more of Namibia after the trek, we have organised special discounts for EHRA trekkers for trips to Etosha and Sossusvlei. For further information email Rachel: elephant@iway.na Big thank you in advance from Rachel and Johannes

Press Release by Johannes Haasbroek
Posted on: Tuesday 11th Nov @ 00:40 (-0800)
PRESS RELEASE Conservation co-operation spares Ugab elephants life. Elephant-Human Relations Aid (EHRA) realized that one of this years three trophy hunting permits issued for elephants in the western Kunene regions, which was to be shared by two conservancies, Sorris-Sorris and Otjimboyo which border the Ugab River, have only one resident breeding bull large enough to be regarded as a trophy. This bull is locally known as Voortrekker and is a well-known character in the area around the Ugab wetlands. Voortrekker is regarded as the founding father of the Ugab elephant herds, as he led the four residential herds there around ten years ago. Younger nomadic bulls do also visit this area, but none of them are of breeding age yet, with the eldest one, a bull called Longshanks, still about eight to ten years too young for the cows to allow him to breed. The loss of Voortrekker would have been a heavy blow for the resident cows, and a sad loss as a tourist attraction for the area and the surrounding community. On the other hand, EHRA is also fully aware that the two concerned conservancies are both in desperate need of the sort of income that a trophy hunt can generate, and have so far seen little to no benefits arising from tolerating elephants in the area. After consulting with the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET), and with the full support of Mr. Ben Beytell, Director of Wildlife and Parks, EHRA decided to make an offer to the two conservancies to financially compensate them if they would waiver their rights to this trophy. Both conservancies showed the same concern upon realizing the situation at hand, and the effect it could have on the future of the Ugab elephants, if the only breeding bull is to be hunted. The conservancies decided to sign a memorandum of agreement with EHRA to waiver their rights to the trophy, based on an offer from EHRA to financially compensate the conservancies for their loss of income and the meat they would have received. The conservancies already had a contract signed with a professional hunter, Mr. Hentie van Heerden, who had a client booked for the hunt. Mr. van Heerden agreed that it would not be feasible or sustainable to shoot a bull in the Ugab, and graciously decided to not use the permit, sending it back to the MET permit office as unused. The MET helped Mr. van Heerden find an unused trophy hunting permit in another area of the country where there was a specific problem elephant bull, to honour his contract with his client. Last month EHRA launched a fundraising trek through the desert in order to raise the money required to buy the trophy. Ten women from the UK, US, Ireland and Canada signed up, and walked 130km through Damaraland over five days. They raised a total of N$140 000 in their plight. This money will be divided between the Sorris-Sorris and Otjimboyo conservancies. N$60 000 each for the fee they would have earned from the trophy hunt, and N$10 000 each in the form of game meat for the community members, instead of the elephant meat they would have received. EHRA would like to thank the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, especially Mr. Beytell, the Professional Hunter, Mr. van Heerden, and the communities of Sorris-Sorris and Otjimboyo for their commitment to the sustainable conservation of such an important species. This case has proved that through a deep understanding of the situation on the ground, and personal dialog between concerned parties, effective conservation decisions can be made. EHRA, and the diverse communities of the Ugab River, would also like to extend their sincere gratitude to the 10 matriarchs from all over the world that rose to the challenge, and bought the life of Voortrekker. Johannes Haasbroek Operations Director Elephant-Human Relations Aid

EHRA Trek, a huge Success!
Posted on: Tuesday 14th Oct @ 03:46 (-0700)
The fundraising challenge trek 2008 was a huge success. A group of 10 amazing women from the UK, Ireland, Canada and the Usa joined EHRA for a grueling 150 km trek through Damaraland. Money raised by the expedition will be used to purchase the trophy permit issued on one of the remaining, breeding elephant bulls in the area. A huge thank you goes to Jen Carpenter, Michelle Curran, Sandra Linke, Carol Brien, Jane Rimington, Lynne Thorne,Shirley Chick, Cheryle Watson, Susan Lowes and Fiona Conlon for raising a huge amount of money and for their high spirits and determination to complete the trek, despite dehydration, raw blisters and sore muscles. We will be doing the trek again next October, so please let us know if you are interested in participating. Photos of the trek will be added soon the the volunteer photo Section.

EHRA Trek 2008, 4th -10th October
Posted on: Monday 22nd Sep @ 02:32 (-0700)
This year the trek will be walked by 10 women from all around the world. They will be walking 120 km through Damaraland to raise money for the purchase of the remaining trophy hunting permit. Over N$ 140 000 will be raised by this amazing group of women from Canada, USA, Ireland and the UK. Many of them were past volunteers of EHRA and we would like to say thank you to all of them for their fundraising and we wish them luck for the challenge ahead. If there is anyone who would like to contribute or sponsor the ladies walking the EHRA Trek, please send a cheque to the following places: If you are in the USA send cheques payable to EHRA to Po Box 272 Wainscott, NY11975-0272 If you are in the UK send cheques payable to EHRA to 59 Chaucer Road London SE24 0NZ Or directly to EHRA at Po Box 2146 Swakopmund Namibia. All funds will be used to buy the last remaing permit as well as to collar the elephant.

Maidstone Girls complete their Wolrd Challenge Itinerary with EHRA.
Posted on: Monday 15th Sep @ 01:57 (-0700)
From the 30th July to the 10th August we were visited by a group of girls from Maidstone Girls School. While they were here they renovated the exterior of some of the Dormitory blocks at A.Gariseb Primary. They also renovated a dam at Loerkop Farm. These girls were living in really basic conditions and they had to purchase, cook and prepare their own food, and also buy all the equipment and organise their own ground logistics as a part of the World Challenge Itinerary. We would like to thank them for their hard work through out their stay at Damaraland.

Related Links

Latest News Headlines

Sign up to the Newsletter!

enter your email address below

Our Friends

All links open in new windows