Elephant Conservation & Biodiversity Projects
- Wendy Tisdell
- Feb 6
- 7 min read
Updated: Apr 17
Bridgit Water Foundation is proud to support elephant conservation projects as part of our programs to create sustainable solutions for communities and wildlife. Elephants play a vital role in maintaining healthy ecosystems, but they face significant threats from habitat loss, water scarcity, and wildlife trafficking.
Through our projects, we aim to protect these majestic creatures while empowering local communities to thrive alongside them.
These projects focus on addressing water scarcity in communities surrounding the Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve in Malawi while fostering a deeper understanding of wildlife conservation. By constructing water wells, the initiative provides a vital resource to local communities as a gesture of appreciation for their commitment to protecting wildlife, particularly elephants, and combating wildlife trafficking.
For the first time, this project bridges the gap in community involvement around the Reserve, equipping them with the knowledge and capacity to play an active role in safeguarding incredible ecosystems. We have found that we must help the local people to help the elephants, and helping the people helps the endangered African elephants nearby.
Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve in Malawi and WESM
Wildlife & Environmental Society of Malawi (WESM) is a registered non-profit, non-government organisation. WESMs mandate is to support the wise use of natural resources in the Nkhotakota District of Malawi through practical projects or environmental education implementation. Bridgit Water Foundation and WESM have partnered to implement a water supply program for communities surrounding Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve.
Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve covers 180,000 hectares and is the largest wildlife Reserve in Malawi, supporting most of Malawi's wildlife species, including elephants. Unfortunately, wildlife and natural resources are being depleted at an alarming rate resulting in massive environmental degradation.
This project has two main objectives - water for communities and wildlife conservation. The project provides quality drinking water to water-scarce communities within a 5km band surrounding Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve.
It also aims to build community understanding about the importance of protecting wildlife and reducing wildlife trafficking, particularly relating to elephants.
The project will be the first initiative around the Reserve to improve community participation, and the project intends to fill the knowledge and capacity gap currently seen among communities in return for their efforts in wildlife conservation.
Water Crisis in Malawi
Malawi is one of the world's poorest nations, and the water crisis in Malawi means that about 4 million people still lack access to safe drinking water.
In the project area, the water crisis is severe, with communities forced to collect water from hand-dug holes in dried-up creek beds, often shared with animals.
Access to clean water is essential not only for improving the wellbeing of local residents but also for supporting wildlife conservation efforts in the Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve. Currently, 53% of people live below the poverty line, only 63% of the population has access to potable water, and 37% of the boreholes in the area are not operational.
The project aims to address these challenges and improve the water crisis in Malawi in this area by drilling new borewells or refurbishing existing ones with hand pumps. Establishing community ownership will be key to ensuring the sustainability of these water sources as well.
Why Are African Elephants Endangered?
To implement elephant conservation projects in Malawi, we must understand why African elephants are endangered in the first place?
The African elephant is endangered due to a combination of human-related and environmental threats. One of the most significant threats to African elephants is poaching for their ivory tusks. Despite international bans on ivory trade, illegal demand persists, driven by markets in some regions where ivory is still highly valued. This has led to a dramatic decline in elephant populations, particularly in areas where enforcement of anti-poaching laws is weak.
Habitat loss and fragmentation is also an issue. As human populations grow, more land is converted for agriculture, urban development, and infrastructure, leading to the loss and fragmentation of elephant habitats. Elephants require vast areas to roam, forage, and find water, and shrinking habitats force them into smaller, isolated spaces, disrupting their natural behaviour and genetic diversity.
Changing climate patterns exacerbate the challenges African elephants face. Prolonged droughts, in particular, reduce the availability of water and food, straining elephant populations and increasing competition with other wildlife and livestock.
Human-elephant conflict is another problem. When elephants and humans share the same areas, conflicts arise. Elephants may raid crops or damage property, leading to retaliatory killings by farmers. This conflict intensifies as elephants' natural habitats are encroached upon by human activities.
Also, elephants have slow reproductive cycles, with females typically giving birth to a single calf every 4-5 years after a 22-month gestation. This means populations cannot quickly recover from significant losses due to poaching or other threats.
These combined factors have caused drastic declines in elephant populations, with the species now classified as endangered. Elephant conservation projects are critical to reversing this trend and ensuring the survival of these majestic animals for future generations. If we understand shy African elephants are endangered, we can help them.
Why Is Wildlife Conservation Important?
Another question we often get asked here at Bridgit Water is why is wildlife conservation important? While the main aim of our organisation is to help impoverished human communities, we are proud to say that a by-product of helping human communities is the local environment and animals are better looked after as well.
Wildlife conservation is important for maintaining the balance of ecosystems, which are essential for the health of our planet and all its inhabitants. Animals like elephants play a critical role in shaping their environments, such as dispersing seeds, maintaining biodiversity, and creating water sources that benefit other species.
Protecting wildlife also ensure the survival of these species for future generations while preserving cultural heritage and natural beauty.
Additionally, healthy ecosystems support human life by providing clean air, water, and fertile soil for agriculture. Elephant conservation projects can help mitigate climate change by protecting firsts and wetlands that absorb carbon dioxide.
By safeguarding wildlife, we protect the delicate connections that sustain life on Earth.
How Can We Protect Elephants?
Bridgit Water Foundation's elephant conservation projects go beyond providing clean water; they play a role in protecting the elephants of Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve. If you are wondering how we can protect elephants, the answer is to start by improving the lives of the local communities and in exchange empowering them to look after the elephants.
By repairing and installing on well, approximately 100 households and 600 people in the village will have access to safe drinking water, significantly reducing the burden of water collection and the prevalence of water-borne diseases like cholera. These improvements not only enhance the quality of life for residents but also free up time and energy to engage in wildlife conservation efforts.
The project has strengthened community capacity to manage water facilities independently while fostering a deeper understanding of the importance of protecting wildlife, particularly elephants.
Another incredible way that the clean water helps all, is that after the well is installed, the people have hours of extra time in their day to commit to income producing activities. The women have time for their businesses and the children have time for going to school. This increase of time to commit to both education and work means that people start looking for more income generation ideas, things like growing coffee, or farming and don't need to reach to things like poaching, or cutting down the trees.
Community Ownership and Sustainability
For water projects to succeed long-term, community ownership is essential. Bridgit ensures that communities take responsibility for managing and maintaining their water points through capacity building and training. Water User Committees, comprising women, youth, and people with disabilities, are established to oversee governance, fundraising and maintenance. Partnering with government-trained water mechanics further ensures the function ability of these systems. Training in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) practices, as well as environmental conservation, empowers communities to adopt sustainable habits and care for their resources.
Promoting Equality and Environmental Stewardship
Wells reduce the burden of water collection on women and girls, unlocking opportunities for education and income generation. Gender equality is prioritized, with committees requiring at least three women members, especially the role of treasurer. Accessibility is also integral, ensuring people with disabilities are included in decision-making and system maintenance. BridgIT emphasizes sustainable water management and environmental protection, encouraging tree planting, soak-pit construction, and careful stewardship of natural resources to ensure that projects benefit both people and the planet.
Here are some before and after photos.
The water source people were using before the well was installed was typically a hole in the ground in the nature Reserve.
Below a mother of 5 children from Chanika Bwezani village using the completed well in her village.
Elephant Conservation Gifts
You can support elephant conservation projects and help provide clean water to communities in Malawi by making a donation to BridgIT Water Foundation. Your elephant conservation gift will go towards building or repairing wells, reducing human-wildlife conflict, and empowering local communities to protect the elephants of Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve.
Every donation, no matter the size, makes a meaningful impact. By giving the gift of clean water, you're also helping the future for these majestic animals and the ecosystems they call home.
Elephant conservation gifts are a powerful way to contribute to both wildlife protection and community wellbeing. By supporting this initiative, you help ensure that families in Malawi have access to safe water while also protecting elephants from threats like habitat loss and poaching. Your donation directly supports sustainable solutions that benefit both people and wildlife, fostering a future where they can thrive together.
There are two ways you can support our elephant conservation and clean water projects. For those who want to make a big impact, it's possible to sponsor a community which involves funding the entire well to bring safe water to a community. This option requires a larger financial outlay and we often secure funding through grants or generous individual donors.
However, we understand that sponsoring the cost of a full well may not be feasible for everyone. That's shy we also offer the option to donate any amount through our Shout for Good giving page, either as a one-time contribution or a recurring donation. These small donations are pooled together, and once we've raised enough, we proceed with building the well. While the project can't be completed until full funding is secured, every contribution brings us closer to making it a reality.
No matter how much you give, you're playing a vital role in providing clean water and protecting our magnificent wildlife. Follow the Shout. link below to give to this cause. Every donation counts.
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