Los Angeles animal advocates rally to support IFAW and Zimbabwe orphan elephant rescue

Costa decided to host the event after traveling with another IFAW board member, Greg Mertz; his partner, Bruce Roberts; and IFAW President and CEO Azzedine Downes on a trip to Zimbabwe where they visited the Zimbabwe Elephant Nursery (ZEN).  "I was struck by the similarities between ZEN's motto: 'Respect the individual, see, sense, save - one by one' and IFAW's motto: 'Transforming wildlife conservation, one animal at a time,'" said Costa.

ZEN founder, Roxy Danckwerts delighted the crowd at the event with her stories of the orphan elephants in Zimbabwe she is striving to give a second chance.

"It is these organizations' commitment to individual well-being, for both humans and elephants, along with the commitment of such dedicated activists as attended our event last week, that give me hope that together, we really can make a difference and build a better world for animals and people," Costa concluded.

Dining on the finest vegan cuisine from Crossroads Kitchens, guests promoted the event through the slogans, #PoachPearsNotAnimals and #IvoryIsWhack, social tags that focus on the epidemic of poaching which is often the reason young elephants become orphans.

Elephant calves typically stay with their mothers well into their teen years. If an elephant mother is killed, young calves (four years or less) typically do not survive without intervention. Wildlife rehabilitators like ZEN attempt to care for the animals until they are old enough to survive in the wild and perhaps to bond with other wild elephants. 

"It was an honor to visit the Zimbabwe Elephant Nursery," said Downes. "These animals are suffering due to human actions. So it is our duty to rescue them, and when they can be released to the wild, we must ensure that the land is conserved for them. Putting those things together is the IFAW way."

About IFAW
Founded in 1969, IFAW rescues and protects animals around the world. With projects in more than 40 countries, IFAW rescues individual animals, works to prevent cruelty to animals, and advocates for the protection of wildlife and habitats. For more information, visit www.ifaw.org. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Photos are available at www.ifawimages.com

SOURCE International Fund for Animal Welfare

Related Links

http://www.ifaw.org