Flood Relief Update

Update

(Nairobi) Following the devastating flood yesterday evening which destroyed both Save the Elephants (STE) research facility and Elephant Watch Safari Camp located in Samburu National Reserve, Kenya, the relief, funding and reconstruction effort is firmly under way. Incredibly, no staff were hurt or injured, and the majority of wildlife, including the elephant population, was also not harmed by the deluge.

Staff today salvaged what remained of computers, key research data and facilities, trawling through the mud which engulfed their tents after waters subsided yesterday afternoon.

However, most of the facility, equipment and data has been lost, and a major funding effort is now under way.

“We would like to extend our gratitude to our donors and partners who have already pledged funds for the rebuilding of the facility. They recognise that the elephant research projects we are conducting are too important to halt due to this calamity,” says Operations Manager Lucy King.

More funds and supplies are being sought as the latest long-term damage assessment runs into hundreds of thousands of dollars, and storm clouds loom on the horizon, threatening further flooding. So far, immediate food and shelter have been delivered to staff by STE Chairman Prof. Fritz Vollrath, the British Army, as well as STE Founder Iain Douglas-Hamilton. Nairobi-based staff who traveled to Samburu for the relief effort remain at the reserve. Please note that news updates on the flooding will be posted on our website. To donate to STE’s rebuilding effort, please go to http://www.justgiving.com/ste-research-camp-floods

For all media inquiries please contact:

Natalia Mroz: +254 (0)718 200952