How To Have An Elephant Named After You

A heard of elephants in Kenya
A heard of elephants in Kenya
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Private citizens interested in naming elephants will part Ksh500,000 in exchange for the naming rights at the Tembo Naming Festival set for October 9, 2021.

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), together with Magical Kenya, invited members of the public to name elephants after themselves and their loved ones on Monday, August 30. 

During the event, individuals will be authorised to name selected elephants, including after themselves after parting with Ksh500,000. The funds are planned to be donated towards the conservation program for endangered species.

Najib Balala and Naomi Campbell
Former Tourism CS Najib Balala with British Model Naomi Campbell during her visit to Kenya on January 12, 2021.
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Najib Balala

According to Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala, Kenya has been made to come up with creative ways to finance the protection of the growing numbers of Jumbos. 

The Tembo Naming Festival by Magical Kenya is one of the various ways to raise revenue for wildlife conservation.

During the launch on Monday, August 30, private sponsors including hotels and rally organizations raised Ksh4 million at KWS headquarters in Nairobi.

"Kenya has 36,000 elephants. It is not easy to look after the increasing numbers and also protect the community from human-wildlife conflicts. The event will help market and brand the country as one of the new experiences in the country," stated Balala.

Additionally, he acknowledged the efforts of the sponsors that raised Ksh4 million during the launch.

However, he called upon corporates and players of the private sector to continue contributing towards the same.

The event seeks to raise at least Ksh100 million to reinforce conservation efforts in both the Tsavo and Amboseli national parks. This is because these parks are where most of Kenya’s elephant populace is concentrated.

More importantly, resources will be focused on minimizing the threat of human-wildlife conflicts, especially where elephants are implicated.

The Wildlife Act of 2013 sanctioned Wildlife Endowment Fund to manage national parks and conservancies.

Balala confirmed to members of the fourth estate and other stakeholders that the government had committed Ksh200 million to the matter of human-wildlife conflict.

Multiple conservation efforts from public and private partners have enabled elephant and rhino poaching in Kenya to decline by 80 per cent and 90 per cent respectively.

In 2013, 400 elephants were poached. However, that number dropped to 11 at the close of 2020.

File image of KWS rangers
File image of KWS rangers
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