Mission:

To raise awareness of the dwindling elephant population in Africa, as well as the Nature Conservancy's efforts to curb elephant poaching on the continent.

Background:

#SaveElephants began as a joint effort of the Nature Conservancy's Africa and China programs to increase wildlife security, expand wildlife habitat, reduce demand for animal products, and reduce poverty and instability — the root cause of poaching — in developing countries. In June 2014, the partnership was expanded to include sponsor Martin Guitar and was re-focused on a single campaign aimed at increasing the resources available for African elephant protection, putting pressure on global leaders to protect elephant populations, and providing concerned individuals with opportunities to take action online.

Outstanding Web Features:

The scrollable site relies on images, pop-up text, and a clickable counter showcasing the reduction in the continent's elephant population from 1980 to 2014 to educate visitors about issues related to elephant poaching. The vivid imagery also serves to illustrate the link between the core message of the campaign — saving Africa's elephants — and the need for access to clean water, small business opportunities, and better schools, all of which contribute to more productive and prosperous communities, in areas where the ivory trade is endemic. To that end, the campaign encourages visitors to create #Elegrams or DIY elephant art projects and share them via Twitter, Instagram, IndieGoGo, and other social media sites. Visitors also can click on the Act Now button to sign up for e-alerts, the Give button to make a donation, or jump to TNC's Africa blog, which includes several #SaveElephants entries that update users on the organization's mission and/or offer advice on topics like "How to talk to kids about elephant poaching."