Amarula encourages naming African elephants in a bid to save them

[Lisbeth]

Amarula encourages naming African elephants in a bid to save them
2016-11-02 10:30 - Louzel Lombard Steyn

Every 15 minutes, an African elephant is poached for its ivory. That amounts to 96 elephants killed per day, every day, for the sake of human vanity.

Experts calculate that there are less than 400 000 African elephants left and fear that this majestic species will be extinct by 2030.

It's no secret that the African elephant is under enormous threat. Which is why Amarula has joined forces with Kenyan conservation organisation WildlifeDirect and their CEO Dr Paula Kahumbu to launch a global awareness campaign as part of their commitment to protecting the African elephant.

The campaign creates an opportunity for viewers to become active participants in preserving the African elephant by casting a spotlight on the problem with their friends and family.

You can see Dr Paula Kahumbu's flight with the campaign here:
https://youtu.be/QsPe8tvrCZk

The inspiring short film was shot with Dr Kahumbu on location in the Amboseli National Park in Kenya with Mt Kilimanjaro in the background.

“The world needs to know that the only way to get ivory is to kill an elephant!” Dr Kahumbu says.

“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 Dr Paula Kahumbu. “Once you know them by name, you would never dream of hurting them."

As seen in the video, the immersive online experience will guide visitors 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.

Amarula will donate $1 to WildlifeDirect for every elephant named and shared per unique user.

According to Dino D’Araujo, Amarula Global General Manager, the campaign's objective is simple – "to make sure that for generations to come, we continue to meet the elephants beneath the Marula trees".

Since joining conservation forces to protected the African elephant in 2002, Amarula has donated $642 000 to saving elephants.

You can name and save an African elephant here.

[Lisbeth]

Mine is called "Zeus"

[Flutterby]

I like it!

[stefan9]

I like it as well. Good idea.

[Flutterby]

Mine is Abigail.

[RogerFraser]

Here is mine Neliphant Bob !

[Lisbeth]

Roger

[Flutterby]

Nice name!

[nan]

here is mine : Silene

[Lisbeth]

Nice one, Nan