THE EMS FOUNDATION TOWARDS FREEDOM PROGRAMME

WATCH THE STORY HERE:

https://youtu.be/W96wDDXkGLo

Since its inception, the EMS Foundation has worked to free elephants from captivity. This focus area has developed into a specialized EMS Foundation programme with individually focused projects.  

In 2015 the EMS Foundation, undertook a review and assessment of the captive elephant industry in South Africa, entitled The Elephant in the Room, Elephants in Captivity in South Africa. This report was updated in 2019. 

In October 2019 the EMS Foundation hosted an international Indaba−Taking Elephants Out of the Room.  Given that there is a convergence of issues coalescing within Africa around Elephants in captivity, namely: national legislation; CITES regulations, including the question of “appropriate destinations”; and loopholes within CITES in relation to the international trade in Elephants into captivity, the aim of the Indaba was to connect all these dots into a coherent response and to find a way forward for Elephants in captivity. The Indaba brought together a number of key Elephant experts from different disciplines, including scientists, ethologists, ecologists, lawyers and NGOs. 

At the close of the Taking Elephants Out of the Room Indaba it was resolved that a formal alliance of humans who embody similar values, knowledge, and objectives regarding freeing Elephants in captivity should be established. The overarching goal of the now, well-established alliance, known as the Pro Elephant Network (PREN), is to facilitate a strong social movement that advocates and litigates locally, within Africa and globally to reverse the culture of imprisonment, captive breeding, capture, abuse, exhibition, management, handling, forced interaction, trading and hunting and any exploitation of African elephants. PREN has, since its inception in 2019, focused their attention on local and international authorities, industry, corporations, communities, NGOs, and others and has provided updated information, through their broad knowledge and experience promoted new policies and strategies all with the common aim to free captive Elephants through rehabilitation and reintroduction to the wild. 

FREEING THE ELEPHANTS AT THE JOHANNESBURG ZOO PROJECT

Given the number of easily accessible wild reserves where international and local tourists can see elephants, South Africa is the last place, in our opinion, where elephants should be held in confined captivity. SANParks offers various free access days for all South African citizens.  

On the 20th June 2022 the EMS Foundation and their co applicants, Animal Law Reform South Africa and Chief Stephen Fritz approached the Gauteng High Court and lodged an application to release Lammie, Ramadiba and Mopane, the three elephants currently living at the Johannesburg Zoo.  

The EMS Foundation has offered to fully fund a lengthy process, where Lammie, Ramadiba and Mopane are medically assessed, evacuated and relocated to a bespoke elephant rehabilitation center in Limpopo Province. This state of the art center is located on a reserve that has had success with reintegrating elephants previously exploited in the captive elephant tourism industry, back into a natural system.

Lammie, Ramadiba and Mopane will be acclimatised and then slowly reintroduced to a natural protected area. The EMS Foundation will be supported a large team of logistical experts, local and international elephant specialists, and veterinarians, at a reserve that has had success with reintegrating elephants previously exploited in the tourism industry back into a natural system.

EMS Foundation recognizes that a traditional zoo cannot meet the needs of elephants for space for movement, mental stimulation, and the enjoyment of natural social groups. The Towards Freedom Programme hopes to relieve the three Elephants at the Johannesburg Zoo of their current captive situation. 

Image Credit: EMS Foundation

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