By Marlien Van der Westhuizen | PR & Senior Fundraiser
The vision for the Shambira Research Centre is becoming a reality.
In July 2026, HERD took a significant step forward and began construction of the Centre. With the support of a loan and the unwavering belief that this facility will transform our understanding of elephants, we chose to build first and trust that the support would follow.
Today, that faith is being rewarded.
The purpose-built research facility, located alongside the HERD orphanage, is progressing steadily and is already beginning to take shape as a centre of excellence for elephant research and conservation. The facility has been designed to support long-term studies into elephant health, behaviour, welfare, nutrition, and environmental stressors.
After months of hard work, the construction is now finished and stands as a monument of what can be achieved to create a future for elephants through research. To get a tour of the research centre, please have a look at Adine Roode's video here.
Construction may be visible from the outside, but the true heart of the Centre lies within.
Over the next few weeks we will need to start equipping the laboratory. Key scientific equipment has been identified, including specialised items like centrigues and microplate readers, while additional equipment such as analytical balances, a freeze dryer, vortex mixers, magnetic stirrers, and temperature monitoring systems are currently being identified.
At the same time, the research team has been working extensively behind the scenes to establish the systems that will allow the laboratory to operate safely and effectively. Laboratory procedures, safety protocols, sample processing systems, and operational guidelines have all been developed to ensure the facility meets the highest scientific standards.
Once fully operational, the Shambira Research Centre will enable HERD to conduct ethical, non-invasive elephant research, including stress hormone analysis using faecal samples and nutritional studies that will deepen our understanding of elephant wellbeing. Combined with behavioural observations, this research will help us better understand how elephants respond to changes in their environment and identify factors that influence their health and welfare.
The Centre is more than a scientific facility. It is a legacy project.
Yet despite the remarkable progress, we are only at the beginning of this journey.
To bring the full vision to life, HERD launched the 1000 Echoes for Elephants campaign. Through this initiative, supporters can leave a lasting legacy by sponsoring an Echo on the Centre's permanent Echo Wall. Each Echo represents a commitment to the future of elephant conservation and helps fund the final stages of establishing the research facility.
We have broken ground. The walls are standing. The laboratory is taking shape.
Now we need to finish what we started.
Be part of this historic journey. Help us turn this vision into a fully operational centre that will benefit elephants for generations to come.
To help us make the Shambira Research Centre a reality, please consider donating towards our 1000 Echoes for Elephants project.
Links:
Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.
Support this important cause by creating a personalized fundraising page.
Start a Fundraiser
