07 Sep 2020

Elephant Havens, a Non-profit making organisation providing refuge to orphaned elephant calves, is also determined to ensure that the community benefits through conservation of elephants.

Located at Gabamocha, in the outskirts of Shorobe village, the organisation started operating in December 2018, with the primary intention of sheltering abandoned elephant calves.

Currently, the centre accommodates four elephant calves that were rescued from different villages in the Okavango area.

In an interview with BOPA, the Co-Founder of Elephant Havens, Mr Boago Poloko said even though the foundation was established to protect orphaned elephant calves, it had also extended a helping hand to the community.

“We are working with the community in the North West District, to ensure that they benefit from the wildlife,” said Mr Poloko.

Elephant Havens, he said was inspired by passion and desire to assist the government in conservation and assisting communities with projects to benefit from the environment.  

Batswana, he said should be instrumental in conservation of wildlife.

He noted that the country has the largest population of elephants.

Mr Poloko said the organisation had suffered financial challenges, as a number of donors who were eager to assist the centre were affected by the COVID–19 pandemic hence their goal to assist the community was negatively affected.

However, Mr Poloko said the organisation had adopted eight families that were affected by the pandemic to assist them with monthly food baskets.

He said the NGO had also drilled a borehole to water the residents of Gabamocha settlement.

Mr Poloko further the NGO also worked closely with farmers association to protect ploughing fields from the marauding giants.

In addition, Mr Poloko said one of the proposed projects was to assist children of Mochaba who walk to Shorobe to attend school with transport since the settlement was located along the elephant corridor.

Senior Elephant Handler, Mr Mohulatsi Michael said elephants were not naturally aggressive, unless provoked.

He said the four elephant calves at the centre were aged between one to two years old.

Mr Michael said the first elephant calf to arrive at the centre was named Mmamotse, the matriarch of the family.   

Mr Michael said the elephant calves would be released into wilderness at the age of 10. ENDS