We’re excited to share that Meaco has reached a remarkable milestone in our partnership with the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) – £100,000 in donations to support Zambia’s orphaned elephants! This achievement has been made possible thanks to the success of our popular DD8L Zambezi Dehumidifier and the incredible support of our customers.
A partnership built on a shared passion for wildlife
Our journey with DSWF began with a simple conversation between two friends – Chris Michael, Managing Director of Meaco, and the renowned wildlife artist and conservationist David Shepherd. From that conversation, a meaningful partnership was born, with a goal to contribute directly to the care and rehabilitation of orphaned elephants in Zambia. For every DD8L Zambezi dehumidifier sold, we donate £2 to the DSWF-supported Elephant Orphanage, providing much-needed resources to help these vulnerable elephants return to the wild.
Today, 26 orphaned elephants are being supported on their long rehabilitation journey back to the wild, representing multiple rescue and wildlife interventions. Tens of thousands of community members benefit from their presence through connected education and alternative livelihood programmes.
Meet Zambezi – The Elephant and the Dehumidifier
The DD8L Zambezi Dehumidifier, launched in 2016, is named after a young elephant at the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation Elephant Orphanage in Zambia, which cares for elephants whose mothers have been killed by poachers.
“We wanted to add character to this new dehumidifier, and after deciding on an elephant, it was very important to us to help with elephant conservation rather than just profit from an association with the animal,” explains Chris Michael.
He reflects: “We are delighted that the Zambezi dehumidifier has proven to be so popular with customers across the world. We take a great deal of pride and satisfaction knowing that every contribution to the DSWF goes directly into elephant conservation to help Zambezi and other orphaned elephants get a chance at a better life.”
A milestone to be proud of
Georgina Lamb, CEO of the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation, shares her gratitude:
“Thanks to the unwavering and long-term support from our partners at Meaco, we have been able to provide orphaned elephants in Africa, victims of wildlife crime, with a second chance at a truly wild life.”
She adds “The Meaco team and their customer base should feel immensely proud of the role they have played in providing a future for elephants and in achieving this incredible milestone.”
Zambezi’s journey
Zambezi was discovered in the swimming pool of a local hotel, having fallen in while trying to drink. After rescuing Zambezi, staff from the orphanage and the hotel took him back to the orphanage. Zambezi was successfully weaned and moved to a release facility in Kafue National Park, along with another elephant, Musolole. Zambezi is one of many elephants who have been rescued by DSWF.
Join us in supporting Wildlife Conservation
Inspired by our work with the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation, a manufacturer made a generous donation to a local elephant sanctuary in their community and sent Meaco a collection of toy elephants in support of our efforts. We proudly display these thoughtful gifts at our office entrance as a daily reminder of the positive impact that partnerships and shared values can create.
As we celebrate this £100,000 milestone, we invite our customers to continue supporting elephant conservation through each purchase of the DD8L Zambezi Dehumidifier. Together, we can make a lasting difference for Africa’s orphaned elephants and the ecosystems that rely on their survival.
Find out more about David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation and how you can get involved in helping protect wildlife for generations to come.
