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Help HERD go solar to support the elephants and carers through load-shedding power outages in South Africa
OUR FUNDRAISING TARGET: R 3.5 Million
THIS INCLUDES PANELS, INVERTERS, BATTERY PACKS, GENERATORS AND LABOUR
You can donate to help take HERD elephant homestead and orphanage in Kapama Private Game Reserve off-grid. We are working with a local company to power HERD Trust operations through solar energy, to enable us to not be dependent on the expensive and interruptive national Eskom power which is frequently subjected to load-shedding, leaving HERD in the dark and without reliable communication systems.
Our mission at HERD (Hoedspruit Elephant Rehabilitation & Development) is to care for and rehabilitate orphaned elephants, to give them a new family, and a second chance of life with a herd.
Another benefit of going solar is the amount that HERD Trust will save on energy expenses in the future. In our first year, we will save a total of R276,000 by making use of solar and relying less on Eskom. Our total cost of energy saving minus the cost of the initial investment will be R10 497 367 over 20 years. That’s huge!
HERD’S POWER SUPPLY IS COMPROMISED THROUGH SOUTH AFRICA’S FREQUENT POWER OUTAGES.
HERD orphanage consists of three elephant bedrooms, with five communal areas that adjoin them: a kitchenette, a storeroom, a bathroom as well as indoor and outdoor playgrounds for the baby elephants. Our goal is to take these facilities off-grid, to ensure the comfort and safety of the elephant calves around-the-clock.
The solar power will also keep lights and power on at the HERD elephant homestead, which provides a protected space for the integrated herd members during the night, with electric fencing keeping away unwanted visitors.
Additionally, solar power will help provide electricity for irrigation for the elephants’ bana grass plantation and other vital operations that help us to support and sustain the elephants.
Electricity is vital for many aspects of our operation, including:
- ELECTRIC FENCING FOR THE HOMESTEAD
- CARERS’ ACCOMMODATION, PROVIDING COMFORT, SAFETY AND VISIBILITY AS THEY WATCH OVER THE HERD AT NIGHT
- COMMUNICATION THROUGH RADIOS AND PHONES
- PUMPING OF WATER FOR THE BANA GRASS, DAMS, ORPHANAGE AND HOMESTEAD, DRINKING WATER
- USE OF PRESSURE WASHER TO CLEAN HOMESTEAD
- ORPHANAGE KITCHEN FOR MILK FORMULA PRODUCTION
- ORPHANAGE
The cost of using diesel for our generators during load-shedding is very high. By utilising solar energy, we are not only lowering the cost but also the carbon footprint on our reserve and earth.
TAX BENEFITS
Should you wish to take advantage of the tax benefit of donating to this campaign, please contact us at fundraising@herd.org.za to let us know.
