The Best Way to Help an Elephant

We all love elephants. We share pictures. We sign online petitions. We’re outraged when they’re abused in the circus or killed for their ivory. Some people make signs and protest when the circus comes to town or march to raise awareness. That’s great, because everything helps. But what do elephants really need the most?

Captive elephants need sanctuary and healthcare. In the wild, they need to be protected from poachers and other human/elephant conflict. This takes a lot of effort by experts. Even more than effort, it takes resources. That means money.

The best way you can help an elephant is to help provide for their care and protection. There are a variety of professionals working right now to provide that care, and they all need your donations. 

These are some of our favorites. Please consider sending them a donation whenever you can. Just click on the name of the organization.

Elephant Aid International

Carol Buckley has dedicated her life to providing a safe haven for elephants. She is currently working in Asia to create chain-free corrals for working elephants. Her new project is creating a chain-free environment in India for Sunder. 

Wildlife SOS

You certainly know about Raju, the elephant who was recently rescued after 50 years in chains. Wildlife SOS is caring for him at their sanctuary in India. His medical needs, food and care are quite expensive. Wildlife SOS offers a variety of monthly support levels. Even your one-time donation will be greatly appreciated.

Friends of the Asian Elephant

Founded by Soraida Salwala, this is the first hospital in the world just for elephants. Working elephants in Thailand can get medical care free of charge. This is important because taking elephants away from their work is a financial burden. Two of their most famous patients and now permanent residents are Mosha and Motala. Each of them lost a leg in land mine accidents and they now walk with the help of prostheses. FAE gets no government funding, so they rely entirely on private donations to offer free medical care. You can learn more about the hospital on Twitter and Facebook.

The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

The elephant ivory trade often leaves innocent victims, orphaned baby elephants. These babies were entirely dependent on their mothers and would normally be unable to survive. The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust rescues and raises these orphans until they can be reintegrated back into the wild. You can sponsor an orphan and receive monthly updates on its progress. 

Big Life Foundation

Founded by acclaimed wildlife photographer Nick Brandt, Big Life has been very successful in tracking down and arresting poachers in Kenya and Tanzania. Your help is needed to protect elephants over 2 million acres in Africa. It is said that rampant poaching will cause the extinction of the African Elephant in 10 to 20 years. Big Life Foundation is one of the best organizations working to stop this massive killing.

Performing Animal Welfare Society

The ARK 2000 sanctuary in Northern California provides a safe forever home for elephants and a variety of other exotic animals rescued from the entertainment business. Founded by the late Pat Derby and her partner Ed Stewart, this is the only sanctuary in the US that provides a home for rescued bull elephants. 

This list is by no means comprehensive, but your money will be responsibly used by these organizations. Whether you choose any of these or another that you know to be reputable, we hope that you will be as generous with your financial support as you are with your time and love. Thank you for helping elephants.

I Want a Baby Elephant for Christmas

I hope you'll enjoy this poem written by my husband, John.

(written in the style of "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas*")

I want a baby elephant for Christmas
Only a baby elephant will do
Don’t want no Angry Birds, no mittens for the snow
I want a baby elephant so I can watch him grow

I want baby elephant for Christmas
Santa knows exactly what to do
The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust has lots of babies there
Knowing that they need my help is more than I can bear

Won’t you adopt an elephant for Christmas?
I’d really like to get one in my name
No need to get him dirty, going down the chimney flue
Just leave him there in Kenya, that’s the best thing you can do

I can hardly wait for Christmas morning
As soon as I log on my email dings
Oh, can you see the joy when I get what I want
A profile and a photo of my orphan elephant

I want a baby elephant for Christmas
Only a baby elephant will do
There’s new orphan elephants who need a home today
Pick one for you and one for me and foster them, I say

This is going to be the greatest Christmas
I won’t be getting junk bought on a whim
I’ll have a year of fostering my elephant
And knowing that he needs me to help him

Is there someone in your life who would like a baby elephant for Christmas? It's not too late to make it happen. Your fostering certificate and information packet will be sent to the recipient by email. All monthly updates as well as lovely watercolor paintings of the orphans are also sent by email. Visit the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust to choose an elephant and make your contribution.

*“I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” was written by John Rox and performed by Gayla Peevey in 1953. This song was responsible for getting an actual hippopotamus donated to the Oklahoma City zoo. Perhaps our little parody will help deserving orphan elephants get fostered for Christmas, and all year long.

Go Elly Domain Registration Takes on Go Daddy

Did you hear the one about the CEO who thinks that the way to save an endangered species is to kill it? The one who believes the objectification of women is an entertaining and useful sales tool? Yes, I'm talking about Bob Parsons, the CEO of Go Daddy, the Internet registrar and web host service.

This week he published a video on his blog of a trip to Zimbabwe. He and a hunting party claim they went there to help villagers who have been troubled by human-elephant conflict. His video of killing a bull elephant and the subsequent butchering of the meat has offended many people who care even slightly about animals. His delight taken in this act of barbarism toward a member of an endangered species is driving a segment of his customers to transfer their domain registrations away from Go Daddy as soon as possible.

Are you looking for a new domain registrar? You're in luck. I just received this press release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Go Elly Domain Registration Takes on Go Daddy

April 1, 2011

In response to Go Daddy CEO Bob Parson's recent trip to kill a member of our species, the African elephants of Zimbabwe have decided to enter his arena. Go Elly is a new domain registration service catering to anyone who loves and respects animals, especially elephants. We offer compassionate domain registration of .com, .net, .org and more Internet names.

Although the idea of African elephants providing this service may be surprising, we are actually well acquainted with online services. The tracking collars some of us wear allow us full access to the Internet. Go Elly will provide fast, accurate processing of your domain name purchases and transfers while researchers will still have full knowledge of our whereabouts at all time.

We look forward to working with everyone who is offended by domain service owners who devalue women and animals.

Company History 

Go Elly is a new entrant into the world of domain registration. At this time our website is still a work in progress. If you are interested in our services and looking for the link to place your order, please check the date on this press release. Thank you.


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Oh dear, it looks like the elephants got a bit ahead of themselves. Go Elly isn't ready for business after all, so I found several options for transferring your domain to a more compassionate host. If you act quickly, you can get great pricing and have part of the price donated to Save The Elephants or Heifer International. Read The Elephant in Bob Parsons’ Business for all the information you need. It also explains more about Bob Parsons and what is wrong with this entire hunting incident.

Update: Looks like the elephants got back to work and have their domain registration and web hosting ready to go. Ok, we actually found some good resources and built a page for them. The good news is that we will make a donation to support elephants for every order placed through our special links on Go Elly - Elephant Friendly Domain Registration and Web Hosting Services

Dallas Does Better for Jenny

Two years ago, Jenny was a very unhappy African elephant. She lived in a small, barren enclosure of less than an acre. Her most recent companion had died, leaving her alone. Worse yet, the Dallas Zoo planned to send her to a drive-through animal park in Mexico.

Animal advocates across the country leaped to her assistance. A local group of her supporters protested outside the zoo and took her case to the City Council. Even Lily Tomlin got involved, visiting Jenny and speaking to the council on her behalf. Several members of the Dallas City Council were in favor of moving Jenny to The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee.

The zoo backed down on the plan to send her to Mexico after it was made clear to the public just how unsuitable the drive-through park would be for Jenny. The space would have been small, and visitors would have been able to drive completely around her space at all hours of day and night. How can anyone relax when there is no time of day guaranteed to be hers alone?

Jenny also has an aversion to the loud noise and sight of heavy equipment. Years ago, she witnessed a large machine remove a companion who had died in their shared enclosure. Not understanding what it was, she likely thought it was some kind of monster hurting her friend. If we put ourselves in her position, I think we could relate to that. Imagine fearing vehicles and being subjected to them driving around you at any time.

So the zoo announced plans to hasten a renovation project that would allow them to bring in more elephants. Jenny would not go to a sanctuary, but the zoo promised to bring better accommodations to her.

Well, the new elephant exhibit is almost ready, and Jenny appears to be enjoying it. In an interview with KERA, Dallas Zoo Director Greg Hudson expresses pleasure with how quickly Jenny and her companion, Gypsy, have taken to it. They're playing in the water and the sand. There are four more elephants for Jenny and Gypsy to get to know. The new residents, aged 30 to 40 years, are being called, "The Golden Girls."

The new exhibit is 15 acres in size, although the elephants have only 5 acres of that. Their area includes trees for pushing and rubbing against, water holes and various enrichment stations including a specially constructed African Fig tree that can be shaken to release fruit and nuts. Giraffes, lions and cheetahs will have space in the new Giants of the Savanna exhibit. Two areas can even be opened to allow the species to share space and interact, just like in the wild. Meet the girls and see a sneak peak and description of the features of the new elephant habitat. Watch a quick video tour via a story by WFAA, or meet all the animals in person beginning May 28th.