Elephants speak in frequencies we cannot hear. Low vibrations. Deep connection. Messages that hold families together. Now it's our turn to respond. Join us in building the Limpopo Research Centre and help raise $280 000 (R4,5 million) to secure the future of ethical elephant research.
In September 2025, HERD made the devastating decision to euthanise Limpopo, one of our beloved elephants, to ensure the safety of both humans and elephants. This tragedy highlighted the importance of better understanding elephant behaviour and predicting stressors. In her memory, HERD is establishing this research centre dedicated to monitoring elephant stress levels through regular faecal analysis.
A permanent, purpose-built research centre dedicated to ethical elephant research. The Limpopo Research Centre will help us understand how environmental factors, including temperature, rainfall, seasonal changes, and herd dynamics, affect stress levels and overall well-being in semi-habituated African savanna elephants. By combining behavioural observations with non-invasive dung sample analysis, we gain a clearer picture of how elephants respond to both natural and human-influenced environment
The centre will: Conduct non-invasive dung hormone analysis Monitor glucocorticoid levels as indicators of stress Track environmental variables such as rainfall and temperature Connect behavioural observations with biological data Build reliable datasets for long-term conservation strategy
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