Thank you!
Emergency flood relief fundraising target achieved
May 18, 2010
We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who contributed so generously to the
rebuilding of our research facility, destroyed by flooding on March 4th, 2010.
Due to the tremendous and overwhelming support of our friends and donors
especially in the US and in UK, we have now exceeded our initial target of
£100,000. In total we have raised £118,000 in direct and online
donations. We are most grateful for the support of Kenyan and international
media, who publicized our plight and helped raise international awareness.
We are pleased to report that much progress has already been made in the
rebuilding effort with the funds raised. The flood was a major blow to STE
operations, and the relief and rebuilding efforts required great financial
resources and staff time. We have been busy picking up the pieces of our camp
and planning for the future.
Currently, all staff are housed in camping tents provided by the British army
immediately after the flooding. Permanent living quarters are being constructed
which will make life at the camp more comfortable then before. The new
structures will be eco friendly, as well as flood proof, relocated to higher
ground to ensure greater security and minimal human foot print on the
environment. We expect to have them up in the next three months.
Access to food and drinking water was greatly disrupted by the flooding, which
destroyed our well, refrigeration facilities, and bridge used for
transportation of supplies. Our well is now functioning again, thanks to the
generosity of near by Chinese road construction crews who provided us with
building material. Our fridge has also been emptied of mud and reinstated,
allowing us to enjoy fresh nutritious meals once again.
We are in the process of replacing of essential field equipment including
digital cameras for recording elephant ids, high-speed computers, and elephant
radio tracking collars. The new equipment will enable us to enhance our
operations and monitor greater elephant numbers. We are also restocking our
library, as our valuable collection of books and field guides was washed away.
Now we intend to resume our important scientific and community work at
pre-flood levels, work which for many years has helped the world understand and
conserve elephant populations. Our scientists in Samburu are once again in the
field, busy monitoring the movements of elephant families returning to the
area. For this, we still need ongoing support.
With your support, we look forward to an exciting 2010 at the STE camp. We
warmly invite you to visit us and see our progress!
Yours truly,
Iain Douglas-Hamilton & The STE Team!
For more information on Save the Elephants, please visit our website www.savetheelephants.org
