We are fighting for survival of wild elephants and other endangered species in Central Africa

As a Silesian native from Beskydy mountains (1988, Třinec) I was always close to nature. While traveling with family through Europe, and later by myself or with friends (Morocco, Turkey, Iran,…), I have fallen in love with nature and exploration. I studied high school in Třinec and was building plans for expeditions to Amazonia, Indonesia, Arctic… First, however, after graduating, I traveled for one year through Western Canada, where I taught language, and made some money (gardening, woodworking and coffee-making). I also volunteered at Cochrane Ecological Institute. This was followed by a summer outdoor expedition to the twenty volcanoes of Kamchatka and it’s bears. Then three years of ecological and evolutionary biology studies at the Faculty of Science of Charles University. During that time I began to explore some areas of equatorial Africa and understood the depth of the problems of elephants and other animals poaching. With thesis about the fate of primates in the fragmented environment I ended the Bachelor degree of the University in 2012 and I went “for a year” where I saw myself most helpfull – back to Africa to help the elephants. Thre is a saying “When – if not now? Who – if not us?” and this thought perfectly fit into my belief that the good must be sought. I therefore traveled on bike and kayak for nearly 6000 km of the most remote areas of Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, Democratic Congo, the Central African Republic and Chad to get to know, document and subsequently change the dark reality of poaching elephants for their tusks. My first film “Here be elephants” speaks about the adventure. I have not returned to study and science yet, but I am thinking about it. In Africa, I volunteered and worked in the elephants protection, investigating the illegal trade with ivory and the deployment of detection dogs for the organization of African Parks, LAGA and PALF (EAGLE Network), The Aspinall Foundation. I have the thinking and ideals of “idiot” and I am addicted to beauty – I need to see it, create it and protect it. I feel best in the wilderness, I admire mountains, volcanoes and deserts, I like to photograph and travel on kayak, I am also interested in entomology and beekeeping. However, even at the very edge of civilization, a passion for culture does not leave me – I write verses, I am a lover of music (both African and “ours”, but always the good), dances, theatres and literature, especially the Russian. I like to learn foreign languages. My totem creatures are Raven, Wolf/Dog, Bear and Elephant. I never eat monkeys and in MacDonalds. Long live justice, long live Elephants!

I joined Save-Elephants already at the beginning of 2013, when the organization was still in its infancy and acted as Arthur’s foundation. At first I just supported it few times. Later my dear friend and fellow student in one, Petra Kubáňová, asked if I would like to help with some “paperwork”. I didn’t hesitate for a minute. The idea of animal protection and Arthur’s passion literally thrilled me! At the beginning it was really just a simple administration, later I started to take more and more responsibility and now I am in charge of almost all accounting.

Nature captivated and never stopped to fascinate me from my early childhood. And when I got opportunity to go to Africa as a volunteer to help Save Elephants, I didn’t hesitate for a moment. Since then, I am glad that I can be part of very concrete acts that lead to meaningful goals.

If I hadn’t begun to attend a hobby group of programming in fourth grade, I would certainly become a botanist, biologist, zoologist, entomologist, geologist, anthropologist, or paleontologist. Like this I am just a software architect (read IT guy) with strange hobbies – parapets full of vivariums full of carnivorous plants, Chameleon Vincent in the terrarium of and his insects, saving elephants with Save-Elephants.

I appreciate Arthur for the work he does, in which he is willing to make personal sacrifices to save elephants in Africa. Elephants are not only beautiful and remarkable animals, but also play an important role in Africa for the wider ecosystem. After my travels in SE Asia, where I had the opportunity to see with my own eyes the situation with Indian elephants, I decided that after returning from my travels I want to effectively help elephants and nature. Together with Arthur, we founded the No riding elephants endowment fund and began to work together to support African elephants in Africa and map the situation with Indian elephants in Asia.

As a young and free, I dreamed of living and working in Africa for Mr. Wagner. It was still Africa, as we will never know it! Now, in Africa, “part of my essential genes” – son Arthur – is working on rescuing endangered animals. So basically I’m there… I’m there mainly by heart, not just because of Arthur, but because of Africa as such. Who comes there once, she wants to come back again and again! She feels her roots!

I have always cared about nature conservation, so I have raised my two kids in this spirit. I hate a greed, apathy, wealth accumulation and enriching at the expense of others or nature! In my life I try to help and do not harm. An integral part of this is an awareness of your own possibilities, but also the shortcomings and attempts of selfimprovements. Never think that something makes no sense that it is to late for something! It’s never too late – it’s just an excuse for your own comfort!

I love the sun, water, clean air, animals and plants – the beauty always impressed me!

What will be my trace on this very beautiful planet is just up to ME!