The Izindlovu Story
How it started: Elephant Protection and Conservation
In the summer of 2019, we raised 73 hearts or 3,000€ through a GoFundMe campaign for HERD’s 1000 Hearts initiative a new project led by Adine Roode to help orphaned elephants through South-Africa’s first elephant orphanage. The positive experience and dedication of the HERD team inspired us to establish the Izindlovu Fund in Belgium, aiming to raise awareness about elephant protection and conservation in South Africa. We supported the construction of a nursery with a 10,000€ donation, and Adine Roode has since become a close friend.
In our fund we prioritize direct contact with project founders to ensure proper use of funds. All our work is voluntary, with overhead costs covered by sales from our shop.
Herd Elephant Orphanage
HERD strives to care for and rehabilitate orphaned elephants, to give them a new family and a second chance of life with the Jabulani Herd.
The orphanage is located on the grounds of Jabulani in Kapama Game Reserve, next to the Krugerpark, purposely built near to the barns of the Jabulani herd for them to easily assess and integrate each baby elephant according to their individual emotional needs.
The unusual family structure of the Jabulani herd, the majority of which are orphans themselves, presents a unique solution for orphaned baby elephants in Southern Africa.
Wildlife Drone Force
Wildlife Drone Force is an Izindlovu Fund project, launched in February 2021, aimed at enhancing wildlife conservation through UAV (drone) technology. We’ve donated drones to HERD elephants and Transfrontier Africa, all sourced from supporters. If you have an unused drone, please contact us to see if it can be used in our efforts.
ArT Project
The detrimental effects of human-elephant conflict, including poaching, result in many displaced or abandoned elephant orphans. Artist François Vandenberghe, known for his lifelike bronze elephant sculptures, supports HERD, South Africa’s first dedicated elephant orphanage. Leveraging connections with Adine Roode and Oliver Cafmeyer from the Cafmeyer Gallery in Belgium, which exclusively sells Vandenberghe’s sculptures, a collaborative ART fundraiser was organized. This partnership culminated in the creation of two exquisite sculptures based on elephants from the Jabulani Herd, most of whom are orphans themselves and roam next to the HERD orphanage. The sculptures emphasize the continued existence and plight of elephants worldwide.
From Elephant Protection to Wildlife Conservation Fund
Our fund has steadily grown, expanding our projects to include the Black Mambas anti-poaching unit. By supporting the female Black Mambas rangers we prevent poaching by de-escalting wildlife conflicts, moreover we help a whole family standing behind that woman as primary caregiver in her community and you raise a totally different generation equipped with knowledge and strong environmental skills.
Connecting with people through Education & Environmental School Programs
Environmental and wildlife education is crucial for fostering sustainable coexistence between humans and nature in African communities. By understanding the interconnectedness of ecosystems, communities can better appreciate the role of wildlife in maintaining ecological balance and recognize the importance of conserving natural habitats.
Together with educational and sustainable activities through our environmental education project at the Mpisi school, we help raise little learners by ensuring the children with nutritious food bars to ensure healthy and well-fueled minds and bodies.
Elephant Awareness Program
During our 2022 trip, we also partnered with Lewyn from The Bushbabies school program and Adine Roode from HERD Elephants to establish an elephant awareness project, emphasizing the importance of students learning about their environment and the animals they live with.
This educational program gives the students the possibility to hear stories and get elephant education from the elephant carers, observe the animals, touch their trunks and participating in a morning feeding session so they have the chance to get a little bit closer to African Elephants which is mostly a once in a lifetime experience although they are living next to these beautiful animals.
Rhino Rehabilitation
Our collaboration with Craig Spencer and Valeria from Transfrontier Africa highlighted the importance of supporting rhino orphans. Through our personal contact with Adine Roode from the HERD orphanage we were able to become a partner of the HESC Rhino Rehabilitation Centre.
Rhino poaching has been driven by the demand for rhino horn in Asian countries, including in South Africa, where rising poverty has coincided with an increase in poaching, posing a threat to rhinos in their natural habitat. While rhinos are not quite as complex as elephants, taking care of a baby rhino involves hard work and round-the-clock monitoring.
Bitcoin for Wildlife Conservation Project
