Every year on August 12, World Elephant Day reminds us that the survival of elephants, rhinos, and countless other species depends on urgent action and lasting community partnerships.
In 2025, the shocking statistics should be enough to sound the alarm; a call to action for all people to come together and protect these gentle giants. These figures include:
- 100 elephants poached daily in South Africa
- 35,000 elephants killed each year in Botswana
While many people experience elephants only through documentaries or wildlife trips, these large animals still face significant threats, from poaching to habitat loss.
As a member of Group Elephant, we channel 1% of our annualized revenue directly to ERP.ngo, funding real, on-the-ground conservation and community upliftment projects.
This means every client partnership adds to our 1% investment, bringing meaningful change through the empowerment of rural African communities and the preservation of endangered elephants and rhinos. It’s a purpose-driven model where business success directly supports lasting environmental and social impact.
By investing in people, we create the economic conditions that make wildlife protection both possible and sustainable: because when local communities thrive, wildlife thrives too.
Tackling Poaching at Its Source
Poaching is not just a conservation issue; it’s an economic one.
ERP’s poverty-alleviation model provides communities with education and sustainable income opportunities, helping reduce the incentive to poach. These programs range from practical skills training to technology access, helping residents turn away from activities that harm wildlife.
Recent ERP initiatives have included:
- Bicycles for safe transport to training and schools
- Technology resources like smartphones and learning software
- Helmets, maintenance kits, and tools to keep transport reliable
- K9 security units and formal ranger training for wildlife protection
Beyond effectively protecting animals, these projects also create jobs, build skills, and foster pride in conservation work, ensuring that safeguarding elephants becomes a community-driven priority.
Keeping the Peace Between People and Wildlife
In many regions, elephants still roam beyond reserve boundaries, unknowingly crossing into farmland or villages.
This can damage crops and create tension between communities and wildlife. ERP’s approach amalgamates prevention with opportunity, building solutions that both protect livelihoods and preserve migration routes.
Initiatives include:
- Bee fences to deter elephants while supporting local honey production
- Aerial monitoring with drones and planes to track herds
- Collar-based GPS tracking for real-time protection
- Seasonal wells for water access during droughts
- Round-the-clock security in key overlap zones
Each of these measures works to prevent conflict and also brings technical training, employment, and infrastructure into local communities.
Expanding Conservation Horizons
ERP.ngo and Group Elephant continue to build a sustainable framework for people and wildlife to thrive together.
In addition to efforts at the Melorane ERP Game Reserve — including the release of Livingstone Eland to strengthen biodiversity — ERP has now established ERP Namibia, extending its model of community-led conservation beyond South Africa’s borders.
And our commitment goes beyond elephant and rhino protection. From anti-poaching air patrols to horn-removal sessions preventing illegal rhino hunting, to food relief for vulnerable children, every project speaks to a balance between urgent protection and long-term prosperity.
Sustaining Wildlife and Communities
The results speak for themselves: A single partnership with EPI-USE contributes to multiple areas: transport and safety equipment, GPS tracking tech, aerial surveillance, community training, and food security programs.
It’s a ripple effect that turns client contracts into lasting conservation and social impact.
On World Elephant Day 2025, we celebrate the power of collaboration between conservationists, communities, and companies to create a future where elephants, rhinos, and people live in lasting harmony.
Learn more about Group Elephant and ERP and follow @ERP.redux on Instagram.
