ERP: Recent top stories about saving Elephants & Rhinos

In this blog, we share a few recent stories from our non-profit entity Elephants, Rhinos & People (ERP) including the translocation of massive bulls to Samara Private Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape and an update on the Somkhanda Game Reserve’s elephant herd.

ERP introduces two new elephant bulls to the Karoo.

We are pleased to share Mvula and Kahle’s journey to their new home. The massive bulls were successfully translocated to Samara Private Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape from Phinda Private Game Reserve in Kwa-Zulu Natal. This operation formed part of a much larger programme called ‘The Great Karoo Migration’ where ERP will be restocking three reserves in the Karoo with viable breeding populations of elephant.

Somkhanda update

The Somkhanda Game Reserve’s elephant herd, translocated to the reserve by ERP and Wildlands in 2016, has become more relaxed and has settled in well. The herd’s post-release movements were initially confined to thickly vegetated valleys in the central section of the reserve but more recent movements reveal that the matriarch is travelling much larger distances and establishing a sizeable home range.

We are also very happy to announce that there is a new addition to the Somkhanda family, a calf which has aptly been named, Somkhanda. The matriarch continues to keep Somkhanda close by her side and thus, the reserve management team has not been able to confirm its gender. Somkhanda’s older brother also seems intent on protecting his little sibling. With splayed ears, he tries to make himself look bigger and more frightening to monitoring onlookers.

Wildlands have fondly mentioned that they find him ‘entirely endearing’. This is the wonderful result of a successful translocation of an elephant family, which was under threat, to a new home being well-managed by Wildlands.

ERP Air Force rhino protection

This beautiful photo was taken by Robert Du Plessis, ERP’s lead Rhino Guardian.

‘Oortjies’ is a 27-year-old white rhino bull, who is a dominant resident in one of the reserves which is protected by the ERP Air Force and other supporting ERP interventions. ‘Oortjies’ (translated as ‘little ears’) is a very calm bull who spends most of his time enjoying the open plains of his reserve and interacting with other rhinos. He gets his name from the various markings on his ears and Robert speaks fondly of him as one of his favorite rhinos.

We are thankful to Robert and his ERP team for their efforts in protecting the rhino in ERP’s project areas.

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ERP Harvard Business Review Case Study

EPI-USE Labs is offering you the chance to read this fascinating case study which focuses on groupelephant.com CEO Jonathan Tager as he grapples with implementing and sustaining the ERP program. The case study highlights the difficulty of planning in embarking on programs of this nature as well as CSR programs in general. It also addresses topics such as hybrid (blended) business models, the 'theory of change' underlying CSR strategy, and the challenges involved in defining and measuring impact.