Help HERD Go Solar
Help us to keep the lights and power on through intermittent electricity outages in South Africa by supporting our Solar Project. HERD Trust is South Africa’s first dedicated elephant orphanage and currently cares for 16 elephants at the homestead and orphanage. As an NPO and PBO, HERD relies on public funding to support the elephants and provide them with all they need. Help make a difference.
HERD's Power Supply Is Compromised Through South Africa's Frequent Power Outages
You can donate to help take HERD elephant orphanage in the Kapama Private Game Reserve, South Africa off-grid. We are working with a local company to power HERD Trust operations through solar energy, so that we are not dependent on expensive and interruptive national Eskom power frequently subjected to load-shedding. Forced blackouts are implemented to prevent overloading the national power grid when energy demand exceeds production. This leaves HERD in the dark and without reliable communication systems. Read more in our blog >
Our mission at HERD (Hoedspruit Elephant Rehabilitation & Development) is to care for and rehabilitate orphaned elephants, give them a new family, and give them a second chance at life with a herd.
Why We Need Power
Electricity is vital for many aspects of our operation, including:
- Lights and electric fencing for the Homestead & Orphanage
- Orphanage kitchen for milk formula production
- Orphanage facilities during day and night for calves
- Carer accommodation, providing comfort, safety and visibility as they watch over the herd at night
- Communication through radios and phones plus spotlights
- Pumping of water for bana grass, dams, orphanage, homestead and drinking water
- Pressure washer for cleaning the homestead
The cost of using diesel for our generators during load-shedding is very high. By utilising solar energy, we are lowering the cost and the carbon footprint on our reserve and earth. The benefit of going solar is also the amount HERD Trust will be able to save on energy expenses in the future.
Solar Fundraising
Many people in other parts of the world don’t understand South Africa’s energy crisis. Eskom is the sole public electrical utility in South Africa, and it supplies 95% of the country’s electricity. The typical American experiences fewer than 10 hours of power outages a year, whereas in South Africa, we frequently experience more than 10 hours of power outages in one weekend. This makes running an elephant orphanage very difficult.
Solar energy is the most readily accessible resource in South Africa, with the sun shining brightly over many parts of the country all year round. Hoedspruit, where HERD is based, receives excellent sunlight in winter and summer. We have decided to take HERD off the grid for the sake of our elephants and our environment.
Please consider supporting our solar campaign by donating a ray of sunshine to HERD. No donation is too small.
Elephant Tales Blog
Want to hear the latest and greatest stories about what the elephants are up to? No two days are the same, and they always amaze us with their distinctive personalities and acceptance of one another. Follow us this way for all the latest stories of what’s happening at HERD.
