Our activities
Save-Elephants is a small organization with a large and focused reach on the development of conservation measures in Africa. We focus on all levels of the problem of elephant endangerment, from poaching and ecosystem destruction, through the smuggling of ivory and other products, to the demand for this illegal contraband in distant foreign countries. However, the focus of our work is in the Congo and surrounding areas.
Elephants are dying out. This applies to the vast majority of countries where larger savannah elephants are found, as well as the Central African region and critically endangered forest elephants, which are now considered a separate species. Despite legal protection and international bans on the ivory trade, poaching for their tusks remains the main cause of elephant decline. Although poaching is carried out locally by local residents, the trade is driven by demand from buyers, particularly from the Far East, and is highly globalized and exacerbated by rampant corruption, instability, and poverty. African Forest Elephants are facing imminent extinction - their total population has declined by 86% in 31 years, while African bush elephants have declined by 60% in the last 50 years.
In addition, Central Africa's natural environment is also plagued by poaching of other species for meat, known as bushmeat, including ape meat, which also poses a significant health risk to humans. Although forest areas are being cleared at a slower rate than in other tropical regions and this is mostly done selectively, this and the associated encroachment of agriculture, oil palm cultivation, and developing mineral extraction are leading to the loss of the natural habitat of elephants and other species.
How we help
In this critical and changing situation, we are helping on several fronts, from repression to efforts to prevent problems. We uncover illegal traffickers of ivory and other wildlife products, such as ape skulls, pangolin scales, and live animals, and initiate their arrest and conviction by the appropriate authorities. This is done in cooperation with the international EAGLE Network and the relevant departments of the Gendarmerie and ministries for nature conservation. On the local level, we help selected village communities achieve greater harmony with wild elephants and hippos by using electric or bee protection to protect part of farmers' fields from these animals. We often establish the very first pilot projects of this kind in individual countries.
At the same time, we provide long-term support to partner teams and organizations in Africa by donating work materials and equipment, such as outdoor field equipment, electronics, mountain bikes, and more, and in particular by participating in the monitoring of little-known and protected areas using camera traps and audio recorders. We cooperate in this way, for example, with the Congolese Ministry of Forest Economy, WWF, the local Chadian non-profit organization A.L.C.P., and other structures.
In the Czech Republic and surrounding areas, we raise awareness among young people and the general and professional public about the protection of elephants and African wildlife through various lectures, charity events, and media coverage of the entire issue.
Where do we help?
Central Africa
We have been active in several areas for a long time and occasionally elsewhere according to urgent needs. The main stronghold of many of our projects is southern Congo, where we protect the wilderness in the Tsoulou reserve and involve local residents in nature conservation. In Congo and Cameroon, we are active in uncovering the black market trade in ivory and other illegal animal products, and we cooperate in the arrest of poachers and, in particular, traffickers. In Chad, we have long focused primarily on developing harmonious coexistence between farmers and wild elephants and hippos, using electric and bee barriers around selected fields.
Our projects
Detection dogs
Czech dogs in Congo search for ivory, bushmeat, and ammunition. In 2014, a pilot project was launched in Brazzaville to deploy dogs in the search for ivory and other illegal contraband...
Investigating illegal trade
Wildlife crime is one of the greatest threats to wildlife and also poses a threat to human health...
Awareness campaigns
Our task is also to inform the public and strive to change attitudes towards elephants and nature in general. This applies not only to Europe and Africa, but also to Asia in particular and, by extension, the whole world.
Anti-elephant and hippo barriers
The growing human population in Africa brings with it an ever-increasing potential for conflict with wildlife over resources...
Field equipment for rangers
Effective nature conservation is only possible with sufficient material resources. Even donated used items can make a difference...
Long-term monitoring of wilderness
Central Africa is – due to its vegetation, infrastructure, and socioeconomic factors – quite a complex terrain...
Our history
We took our first steps to support African nature in 2012, and we haven't stopped since. Some of the projects are ongoing, others were one-off, and others we started and later handed over to other partners. Here you can read about the main events and milestones we have encountered over the years.
