Ivory belongs to elephants Amboseli- Tsavo campaign walk

Re: Ivory Belongs to Elephants Amboseli- Tsavo Campaign walk

The elephant population in 1970 was at 167, 000. The numbers stand at 26,400 elephants in Kenya today. Kenya loses one (1) elephant daily to poaching and over 365 elephants for its tusks (ivory) annually. If this trend continues the national elephant population may decline given that mortality rate was 4% compared to a growth rate of 2% in 2011. Over 80% of Kenya’s elephants are found outside protected areas and the rest in National Parks and Reserves. Poaching is an emerging challenge and if its not managed now, it will lead to decline of elephant numbers and negatively impact the economy (GDP). 

Elephant Neighbors’ Center (ENC) is a Non- profit Organization whose mission is to protect the African elephant and secure landscapes for elephants outside the protected areas. ENC places emphasis on a three-tier approach: integrating community knowledge, environment and livelihoods in resolving principal problems and bias facing conservation in Kenya. Mr. Jim Nyamu is an ENC co-founder with over 16 years’ experience of studying elephants in Kenya and Africa. In 2013 he walked over 3,000 km in Kenya and in the USA raising awareness on elephant and Rhino poaching.

The Ivory belongs to elephant walk campaign received enormous support from Kenya’s First Lady Margaret Kenyatta, Cabinet Secretary to the Ministry of Natural Resource and Minerals, KWS and International organizations such as IFAW, WWF among others who walked with Jim separately. Jim has walked over 4000 km now that includes 950 km in the USA  (Boston to DC). In his campaigns he has walked and visited 372 Secondary’s School Primaries, colleges and over 600 community meetings in 29 counties. The campaign has also interacted with county Commissioners, Administration and Kenya police in different counties. 

ENC has brought various organizations together and have achieved just to mention just a few since the campaign started; Ivory belongs to elephants campaign among others lobbied the Kenyan government to improve the wildlife penalties from 1 year or fine of Ksh 40,000 to life in Prison or a fine of 20million shillings and now enacted as a law. Ivory belongs to elephants walk gave birth to other campaigns such as Elephant for Kenya and Hands Off Our Elephants; represented Kenyans in the David Shedrick Wildlife Trust International March in Washington DC on October 4th 2013. The campaign with other lobbyist organizations that included David Shedrick Wildlife Trust pressurized the USA government to crush the ivory confiscated and finally was crushed in Colorado and Jim was invited to witness on November 14th 2013. Raised more awareness on the poaching through local, national and International media that includes Voice of America, Good morning America among others reaching to over 500,000 peoples. Mr. Jim Nyamu is looking for an organization or individuals in the USA who would help him to plan for another campaign walk mostly in California. This campaign walk has three objectives : 

(1) Raise awareness on the elephants and Rhino poaching   

(2) Engage local communities on how to participate in wildlife conservation programs 

(3) Educate communities on the new wildlife Act enacted early this year.

This noble campaign is scheduled to start in Emali, Amboseli, Loitoktok, Jipe, Taveta, Mwakitau to Voi tentative dates Jan 22^nd through Feb 23nd. (455km) I am writing this in request for your support.

Please contacts us : Email : info@elephantneighborscenter.org   +254 713-353-060

https://www.facebook.com/ElephantNeighborsCenter