World Elephant Day: How One Diamond Company is Saving 200 Elephants
In honor of World Elephant Day on August 12, we are excited to highlight the important work DPA member, De Beers Group, is doing to help save the African elephant population. Since the early 1990s, De Beers has supported African wildlife conservation on its Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve (VLNR) in northwest South Africa. Covering 32,000 hectares, VLNR can comfortably accommodate 60 elephants, but because of natural population growth, the VLNR’s elephant population increased to 270 — which began putting the reserve’s ecosystem at great risk.
In order to protect South Africa’s elephant population and VLNR’s delicate ecosystem, De Beers has begun relocating 200 elephants from VLNR to Zinave National Park in central Mozambique — around 1,700 km away. Zinave’s depleted wildlife population has already been given a boost following the arrival of the first elephants from VLNR that are now roaming its 408,000 hectares.
De Beers has partnered with Peace Parks Foundation, a leading not-for-profit organization focused on the preservation of large functional cross-border ecosystems, to ensure that the elephants are safely transported to Mozambique and that they flourish in their new habitat.
Bruce Cleaver, CEO of De Beers Group, said: “There is no greater symbol of Africa than the majestic elephant. For us to be able to help secure their future in Mozambique, while also ensuring other species at our Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve can flourish, is something every employee of De Beers Group is proud of. This translocation is born of a deep sense of responsibility and is part of our wider commitment to continue to invest in new and innovative ways to protect the natural world.”
For more information about De Beers’ elephant project, click here.
