In the Footsteps of Giants: Our 40th Anniversary Appeal Elephants October 30, 2024 An Appeal 40 Years in the Making Unless you’ve been hiding behind an elephant for most of our updates this year, you’ll know that 2024 is our 40th anniversary. David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) was founded by the renowned artist and wildlife champion, David Shepherd CBE, in 1984. Over that time, many things have changed, as you might naturally expect: we’ve grown from a humble operation based out of David’s kitchen to an organisation funding 20 projects in 20 countries; we’ve evolved from David selling his artwork to raise funds, to partnering with hundreds of artists and hosting the world’s most celebrated wildlife art competition; and we’ve even changed our name, having started out as David Shepherd Conservation Foundation. Yet, some things have stayed strongly consistent – including the three animals associated with our logo: the elephant, rhino, and tiger. For 40 years, these species have been at the core of our identity – and we are still fighting for them today. That’s because, despite four decades of species-saving work – from funding and supporting ranger teams on-the-ground, to driving stronger legislation to protect them globally, they need our help more than ever. Elephants David’s love of elephants, both in painting and in life, is something that saw him affectionately referred to as ‘the man who loved giants’. In the 1980s, when we were still in our infancy, the African elephant population was decimated by a dramatic increase in poaching as demand for ivory soared. Their numbers dropped from 1.3 million to just 600,000 in a few short years. DSWF was a key part of the international outcry and effort to safeguard these incredible iconic animals. Yet, today, the population has dropped further – to only 450,000. Altogether, in a little over a century, African elephant populations have been diminished by a devastating 90%. The wider impact is just as disruptive. The last great tuskers are all but gone, changing the genetic gene pool and diversity in the population. As mature males are relentlessly targeted for their ivory, their role in disciplining younger males is now missing in the dynamic of many populations, changing how they interact with herds and even people. And more populations than ever are carrying the psychological and physical scars of being the victims of poachers, potentially escalating incidents of human-wildlife conflict. Rhinos Between the start of the 20th century and when we were founded in 1984, rhino numbers had dropped from half a million to fewer than 50,000. Some, like the Javan and Sumatran rhinos have barely functioning populations left. Greater one-horned rhino and black rhino numbers are now both below 10,000. And already, one sub-species of white rhino has been lost forever. Rather famously, David Shepherd’s first ever commissioned painting was of a rhino charging an RAF aircraft on a Nairobi runway. Now, we are simply charged with ensuring their survival. Tigers There could be as few as 4,000 tigers left in the wild. Three sub-species have gone extinct within the 40 years we’ve been operating. The illegal trade in tigers and tiger parts, made worse by captive breeding facilities across Asia and South Africa, alongside threats from habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict, is pushing this beloved animal towards the brink at an unprecedented rate. 40 Years Battling Extinction… The above may suggest that the future is bleak. But without us and the work you make possible, things would be a great deal worse. DSWF supports and funds key projects that will continue to turn the tide on extinction. We are helping orphaned elephants return to the wild, repairing their relationships with humans whilst also conditioning them to avoid human-wildlife conflict as adults. Our funding also enables ongoing research, effective ranger patrols and intervention, and lobbying at international level for better legal protection. We’ve been proud protectors of rhinos since our inception. Our funding contributes towards monitoring, anti-poaching, and species protection operations across both Africa and Asia. We also actively engage with government and international policy conventions (such as CITES), to ensure the toughest legislation is enacted and implemented to protect rhinos in the wild, and we continue to fight for an end to all trade in rhino horn. DSWF is also helping to protect wild tiger populations throughout Asia. We support frontline tiger conservation initiatives in India and Thailand and provide funding for undercover investigations and exposés into the illegal wildlife trade. And we continue to advocate for a total ban in all tiger parts and derivatives. 40 Years Left to Win However, despite our persistent and preventative impact, the world is still losing up to 100 elephants a day. At that rate, that gives them no more than 13 years. On average, 750 rhinos are killed each year by poachers. Not accounting for the further impact of climate change and habitat loss, that puts their extinction in the wild at 36 years. And for tigers, whose populations have crashed by 96% in a century – less than a decade could be left. And so, our fight and need to safeguard the next forty years for these iconic, keystone species under the gravest of threats not just continues but is imperative. Please be a part of our ongoing work and legacy by giving what you can to our ‘In the Footsteps of Giants’ appeal. Help us make a difference and ensure their footsteps don’t ever become an echo of the past. https://davidshepherd.org/donate/footstepsofgiants/ Link copied