Elephant Human Relations Aid (EHRA) is a Namibian based and registered not for gain organisation (reg no 21/2003/630). EHRA aims to conserve the desert elephants in a beautiful region of Namibia called Damaraland. EHRA specialises in anti conflict solutions and the focus of our work is the water point protection programme elephant training for communities farmers schools game guards.
How EHRA conserves the desert elephants of Namibia
Elephant Human Relations Aid enables volunteers to Africa to contribute to elephant conservation by joining our volunteer project, which aims to reduce conflict between elephants and humans through:
Elephant Movement and ID Database
Tracking and monitoring the desert elephant in the southern Kunene Region of Namibia in Africa are important functions EHRA performs with the help of the volunteer project teams, enabling us to compile identikits of all elephants and to map their movement patterns. Data collected is entered on our online database which links GPS positions to Google Earth maps. From this information, we can ascertain which farms and homesteads require protection and where the elephants roam during different seasons.
As the desert-dwelling elephants of Namibia are still adapting to the end of poaching and over-hunting and the vast areas of land now open to them, their movements and habits are still transient and largely unknown. EHRA believes accurate data on elephant numbers and movements, the ability to identify each elephant, and knowledge of individual elephant personalities are paramount to effective conservation management in Africa.
Volunteering on the elephant project in Namibia
Water point Protection Programme
In their search for water, elephants can cause extensive damage to valuable water sources, often rendering communities in Namibia without water for what can be years.
The EHRA elephant conservation volunteer project works directly with local communities to protect vulnerable structures from damage with walls which allow the elephants to drink but prevent access to the windmills, water storage tanks or pumps.
Our conservation volunteer project provides valuable manpower for the construction of protection walls and also provides funding for twice monthly vehicle-based patrols of the area, when the volunteer groups assist EHRA staff monitoring the elephants and the status of walls built previously. Namibia is a beautiful area of Africa and volunteer groups can expect to see some of the most stunning areas Namibia has to offer.
Elephant Education
EHRA believes education is an important tool in safe-guarding the future and conservation of the desert-dwelling elephants in Namibia. EHRA's PEACE (People and Elephants Amicably Co-Existing) Project focuses on empowering community members (including school learners) with knowledge on elephant behaviour so they can live without fear of the desert elephants.
EHRA also helps in supporting local schools with volunteer efforts ranging from a project rebuilding classrooms, dormitories or toilets and showers to building a computer network from donated computers and installing a library. EHRA has also set up a partnership programme between overseas schools and schools in Namibia.
