Elephant Art is a youth-based community conservation education program initiated by the Kingsley Holgate Foundation (KHF), with the aim of instilling a passion for wildlife amongst Africa's youth. Through art and education we are bringing a call to action against elephant poaching & all wildlife crime. Your donations will provide art supplies for school children in Africa, and bicycles for the top artists at each school. *Photo credit Kingsley Holgate
Elephant poaching is engulfing Africa. In 1979, 1.3 million Savannah elephants roamed the plains of East and Southern Africa. Slaughtered for their ivory, only an estimated 350,000 remain. Linked to international terrorism - elephant poaching is also killing game rangers and conservationists fighting to save this iconic African species. There is worldwide concern that poaching, habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict may wipe out Africa's iconic elephants. The time for action is now.
Rural communities have a vital role to play as custodians of Africa's elephants and other iconic wildlife. It is especially important that young people become aware of the value of these ancient symbols of Africa, their irreplaceable role in biodiversity, their place in African cultures and heritage, and the destabilizing effect of elephant poaching - not just for game reserves, but also for neighboring communities. *Photo credit Kingsley Holgate
To date the KHF art campaigns have reached over 150 rural communities and 135,000 children and youth in South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique. More than 20,000 rhino art pieces were collected, showcasing both their awareness of rhino poaching and the involvement of criminal syndicates, as well as a range of perspectives on biodiversity and conservation. It was also part of the launch of the Wildlife Crime Initiative in Mozambique which implemented tougher wildlife crime laws.
