Paul G. Allen Introduces Major Initiative to Conserve African Elephant Population

GABORONE, Botswana, Dec. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Responding to the highest rate of elephant mortality in history, investor and philanthropist Paul G. Allen is advancing a major elephant conservation initiative in Africa to provide new information critical to the species' future survival. The Allen-led Great Elephant Census is the largest pan-Africa aerial survey since the 1970s and will be managed by the Botswana-based charitable organization Elephants Without Borders with $7 million in funding from Allen.

Ivory trade and poaching pose serious threats to African elephants, and experts predict there is a risk that the elephants could disappear from many parts of the continent for good. The two-year census project, which kicks off in February 2014, will provide accurate data about the numbers and distribution of the African elephant population, including geographic range, forming an essential baseline that will benefit conservation efforts.

"I've spent enough time in Africa to see the impacts of poaching and habitat loss on the continent's elephant population," said Allen. "By generating accurate, foundational data about African elephants, I'm hopeful that this project will significantly advance the conservation efforts of this iconic species."

The census continues Allen's history of supporting global initiatives with the potential to catalyze research and solutions that accelerate progress on both scientific and social fronts. Allen's strong ties to Africa include his investment of more than $10 million since 2008 to help support wildlife and landscape conservation efforts, and community and economic development projects.  

Historically, counts of Africa's savanna elephants have varied in quality and some have been speculative, which can lead to incorrect conclusions about population status and trends. An accurate count of the African elephant population using up-to-date scientific techniques is a vital step in managing conservation efforts, identifying poaching hotspots and guiding law enforcement interventions, and assessing the impact of threats, such as habitat loss. World Elephant Day estimates that as many as 100 African elephants are killed each day by poachers seeking ivory, meat and body parts, despite a 1989 global ban on ivory trade. Approximately 30,000 African elephants were killed illegally in 2012, the most in 20 years according to the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

"Over the past few years, I have documented with regret the slow retreat of elephants from habitats they were rapidly repopulating," said Dr. Mike Chase, director and founder, Elephants Without Borders. "The threat of local extinction feels very real. In October 2013, Elephants Without Borders flew a survey over a park where we had previously counted more than 2,000 elephants. We counted just 33 live elephants and 55 elephant carcasses. That is why this research is so important."

Elephants Without Borders, which has developed a reputation for providing novel and meaningful information for the conservation of African elephants, conceptualized and will conduct the survey in close collaboration with in-country conservation organizations and governments. The survey is scheduled to take two years. In the first year, the team will survey the population of elephants and other large herbivores in at least 13 countries representing between 80 to 90 percent of Africa's savanna elephants. In the second year, researchers will analyze the data and package findings. Preliminary survey results are expected in mid-2015 and will be shared with academics, NGOs, and governments championing animal and land conservation.

The survey will comprise 18 planes, 46 scientists and about 19,000 transects, totaling 600,000 km, which will be flown in 18,000 hours over 7 months of flyovers, and will involve African governments and NGOs, including the IUCN African Elephant Specialist Group, World Wildlife Fund, Wildlife Conservation Society, Frankfurt Zoological Society, African Parks Network and Save the Elephants.

About Paul G. Allen
Paul G. Allen is a leading investor, entrepreneur and philanthropist who has given more than $1.5 billion to charitable causes over his lifetime. He founded Vulcan Inc. in 1986 with Jody Allen to oversee his business and philanthropic activities. Today, that Seattle-based company oversees a wide range of Allen's investments and projects throughout the world. In 2003, he created the Allen Institute for Brain Science to accelerate understanding of the human brain in health and disease and, a decade later, launched the expansion of the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence to explore opportunities for development in the field of AI. He is the co-founder of The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, which has awarded more than $475 million to nonprofits in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. His commitment to the long-term sustainability of Africa includes support in the areas of conservation and anti-poaching, community development and education, and sustainable tourism. Through his foundation and direct gifts, Allen has given about $10 million since 2008 to support key research, education and technology initiatives across the continent.  His $26 million gift to Washington State University for the Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health is fueling critical research that will mitigate and eradicate animal-based disease in Africa. For more information, go to www.pgafamilyfoundation.org and www.vulcan.com.

About Elephants Without Borders
Elephants Without Borders is a charitable organization based in Botswana dedicated to conserving wildlife and natural resources through innovative research, education and information-sharing with the community. EWB, a longtime grantee of The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, has studied the ecology of elephants for the past 15 years in Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The organization flew the first systematic aerial survey to ever estimate elephant and wildlife numbers in southeast Angola and has deployed state-of-the-art satellite collars on more than 130 elephants. EWB's mission is to open borders for African's wildlife through the creation of wildlife corridors to help ensure a prosperous and compatible future between people and wildlife. For more information: www.elephantswithoutborders.org.

Contact:
Christina Siderius on behalf of Paul G. Allen, 206-342-2526 or [email protected]
Alyson Angelo, Edelman on behalf of Paul G. Allen, 503-471-6859 or [email protected]

SOURCE Vulcan Inc.