Elephant Family

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]

For the taxonomic family to which elephants belong, see Elephantidae.
Elephant Family
TypeCharity
IndustryWildlife Conservation
Founded2002
FoundersMark Shand, Caroline Casey, Dugal Muller, Robin Russell, Nicholas Claxton
HeadquartersUnited Kingdom
Key people
Mark Shand, Caroline Casey, Dugal Muller, Robin Russell, Nicholas Claxton [1]
Revenue2,007,473 pound sterling (2019) Edit this on Wikidata
Number of employees
9 (2019) Edit this on Wikidata
Websitewww.elephant-family.org

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 joint royal presidents of the charity and most recently attended launched Elephant Parade India for the charity during their visit to Delhi.[3]

Elephant Family is known for its award winning creative events that have raised millions for Asian elephants including The Fabergé Egg Hunt in 2012 and 2014, Travels to my Elephant in 2015 and 2017, The Animal Ball in 2013 and 2016, and Elephant Parade London 2010 and India 2018.[1]

Leaders
  • Mark Shand – chairman (2009–2014; his death)
  • Ruth Powys – principal trustee

Partnership

Elephant Family partner with local NGOs across Asia to raise local awareness and to support sustainable in-a country conservation projects.

The NGOs include:[4]

Royal presidents

References
  1. "Elephant Family | Protecting Asian elephants and their habitat". Elephant Family. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  3. "Patrons & Ambassadors". Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  4. "Who we work with". Elephant-family.org. Archived from the original on 25 October 2018. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  5. "Elephant Family Receives Royal Patronage". Archived from the original on 11 May 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
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