Ever the environmental and wildlife activist, Oscar winner Leonardo DiCaprio has just taken a stand for the elephants. His non-profit, The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation just made a $1 million donation in the form of a grant to Save the Elephants.
The purpose of the donation is to save elephants from poachers, which is a rampant problem in Africa. “Elephant poaching is a brutal crisis, with more than 30,000 elephants killed last year alone,” maintained Leonardo DiCaprio. “The decimation of these animals is something we have the power to stop, and the Elephant Crisis Fund is a crucial part of the solution. I am honored to support them and recognize Dr. Douglas-Hamilton for his lifelong commitment to protecting this species.”
The Elephant Crisis Fund aims to eliminate this terrible crisis in a few different ways. First, they support airplanes flying over Tsavo National Park to find poachers, and specially trained dogs to sniff out ivory at ports. And to also educate the people of China, the largest importers of ivory in the world, about the negative impact the market has on elephants, via PSA’s and celebrity announcements.
The fund has a goal of raising $5 million over the next three years to aid in the effort. You can find out more here.
What do you think about this epidemic? Do you think Leo’s gift will help? Sound off in the comments below!
