Elephant_Family
Elephant Family
International non-governmental organisation
Elephant Family is an international NGO dedicated to protecting the Asian elephant from extinction in the wild. In the last fifty years, their population has roughly halved and 90% of their habitat has disappeared. Poaching, a growing skin trade, and demand for wild-caught calves for tourism remain a constant threat along with the deadly and escalating conflict between people and elephants for living space and food. Elephant Family funds pioneering projects across Asia to reconnect forest fragments, prevent conflict and fight wildlife crime. Since 2002, Elephant Family has funded over 170 conservation projects and raised over £10m through public art events for this iconic yet endangered animal.[2]
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The late Mark Shand was one of the founding forces behind the charity when it launched in 2002 under the patronage of the Rajmata of Jaipur and Sir Evelyn de Rothschild. Mark Shand was an adventurer, best-selling author and conservationist who dedicated his life to the survival of the Asian elephant. His mission started in 1988 when he rescued a street-begging elephant, which he named Tara, and journeyed 800km across India with her. Tara became the star of Mark’s best-selling book, Travels on my Elephant, which went on to win him Travel Writer of the Year.[1]
King Charles III and his wife Queen Camilla are the charity’s joint royal presidents and attended the launch of Elephant Parade India for the charity during their visit to Delhi in 2018.[3]
Elephant Family is known for its award winning creative events that have raised millions for Asian elephants including the Fabergé Big Egg Hunt in 2012 and 2014, Travels to my Elephant in 2015 and 2017, Elephant Parade London 2010 and India 2018, and the Animal Ball in 2013, 2016 and 2023.[1]