We Are All Mammals is a UK registered animal welfare education charity which provides training and support to improve the welfare and management of animals that are involved in tourism.

In the past two years WAAM has been working with the Zambezi Elephant Welfare And Conservation Trust (ZEWACT) to promote a new elephant awareness activity to replace the riding of elephants. Through expert advice, on-the-ground-workshops, and ongoing training in humane Cooperative Teaching, the lives of these elephants have been transformed to lives of genuinely high quality.

ZEWACT is based in Victoria Falls and has 10 elephants, all of whom have come from captive rescue environments; none have been taken from the wild. Each elephant is a unique individual and ambassador for their species, from the mischievous Deka to the stately rock - Doma.

This work is funded by tourist donations, but with the current worldwide travel ban, tourists are no longer visiting which means there is no income to carry out this important work or to provide food and veterinary care for these wonderful animals.

The absence of tourists threatens the welfare and existence of these magnificent animals. Their familiarity with people means they cannot be released to the wild as they would face imminent danger from poachers or conflict with local human communities. Although the ZEWACT elephants are free to roam in 3000 hectares of natural habitat during the day, they require supplementary feed, protection from poaching and shelter at night. They also benefit from kind human interaction, environmental enrichment and mental stimulation. ZEWACT also contributes to the local conservation welfare fabric of Zimbabwe, by working toward solutions for human elephant conflict, community engagement and research.

We are reaching out on the behalf of ZEWACT so that we can help their elephants at this critical time. Because We Are All Mammals has been working with these elephants and their human carers for the past few years, we are able to bring their plight to your attention. We Are All Mammals wants to support the elephants and the ZEWACT staff at this difficult time and to ensure their sustainable and high-welfare future when the pandemic recedes.

When the impact of Covid-19 was first felt in Victoria Falls in March 2020, many tourism businesses closed almost immediately. The dedication of the ZEWACT staff is incredible. Despite falling revenues, suspended contracts and pay cuts, the human carers of these elephants have continued to work, some in an entirely voluntary capacity.

When Desire, one of the younger carers, learnt that his contract would be suspended temporarily to ensure ZEWACT could survive, he offered to work on a voluntary basis. Desire stated to his boss, 'How can I leave these elephants? They are my family.' Mishek, another carer in the same position, followed his example. We are very proud to be working with people that show such care and dedication to the elephants.

It is easy to feel overwhelmed and helpless in the face of this pandemic. But you can make a real difference. If the elephants can be supported through this difficult time, the work on elephant welfare, conservation and community understanding can continue.

If you wish to help, please donate. We have suggestions to help you choose how much to give, although each and every donation is welcome:

£10 pays the wages for a week for a gardener to grow supplementary elephant grass for feed

£25 pays for training materials in humane and co-operative teaching for 1 carer to ensure they are in a good position to resume work as soon as possible.

£50 pays for the regular veterinary health checks for an elephant for a month

£100 will pay for food for a month for an elephant when the grass stops growing

£200 pays for annual training in humane Cooperative Teaching promoting better care for elephants and improved career prospects for the local community.

Anything that you can give is immensely appreciated and will keep the ZEWACT elephants blissfully unaware of what is happening in the human world! With your help we can maintain the highest quality of care that these elephants deserve in the challenging time of Covid-19.

Thank you