Susie Kearley finds out about the father and son team whose mission is elephant conservation.
WALK through the market town of Princes Risborough and you might be surprised to see a couple of shop windows adorned with colourful painted elephant sculptures.
Inside, I find dozens of them, all painted with different designs. They’re created by artists and celebrities for Elephant Parade to raise funds for elephant conservation around the world.
Elephant Parade began in 2006, when father and son Marc and Mike Spits were on holiday in Thailand. Marc met a baby elephant named Mosha who had lost her leg after stepping on a landmine.
Mosha inspired the two men to start the business so they could raise awareness of the challenges faced by elephants, both in the wild and in captivity overseas, and do more to help them.
“We wanted to do something that would be profitable in the long run,” Mike says. “This is the only way in which we can provide the elephant with a sustainable future.”
The projects they support focus on the health and wellbeing of elephants, promoting solutions to end conflict between humans and elephants, and raising awareness of conservation issues through education.
“We reach out to people around the world with positive messages that make them want to be part of our campaign to protect elephants,” Mike explains.
“We place visually captivating herds of up to 250 art elephants in popular destinations and this raises awareness of the plight of elephants around the world: most people don’t realise that the situation is as dramatic as it is.
“Our work was initially inspired by Mosha, a baby elephant who stepped on to a landmine and lost her right front leg when she was just seven months old.
This story is from the Issue 140 edition of People’s Friend Specials.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the Issue 140 edition of People’s Friend Specials.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
A Perfect Day
A woman takes stock in this poignant short story by Annie Harris.
How We Used To Live
For a taste of life over a hundred years ago, Pat Coulter travels to a living museum in Devon.
Together, We Will Make A Huge Difference
Susie Kearley finds out about the father and son team whose mission is elephant conservation.
Local Heroes
Douglas McPherson visits a museum that remembers the brave American airmen from World War II.
Now You See Her
The shores of Loch Ness are often crowded with people hoping to catch a glimpse of Nessie . . .
The Colour Purple
The bike was very distinctive – until it disappeared!
Skelling Michael
This unique Irish heritage site has scarcely changed for several hundred years. Steve Newman braved the crossing to find out more.
A New Direction
It’s time to move forward in this uplifting short story by Keith Havers.Gavin’s travel plans were on hold –just like the rest of his life . . .
Scatterbrain
Ewan Smith’s light-hearted short story has a very forgetful heroine. I had come to the supermarket to pick something up, but I couldn’t remember what . . .
We've Always Sensed It To Be A Spiritual Place
Kathleen MacLeod welcomes visitors keen to find out more about the Tomb of the Eagles.