ERP Seeks $250,000 Matching Grant to Expand Anti-Poaching Air Wing

Elephants, Rhinos & People fundraising challenge seeks to aid vital patrols protecting endangered animals in Southern Africa.

Meg Godlewski

Friday, December 05, 2025 at 09:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Elephants, Rhinos & People (ERP) uses a CubCrafters NXCub to patrol Southern African in search of poachers. [Credit: ERP]

Key Takeaways:

Elephants, Rhinos & People (ERP), a conservation nonprofit, is seeking public donations to expand its Air Wing for protecting endangered elephants and rhinos in Southern Africa.
ERP aims to raise $250,000 by February 28, 2026, to unlock a matching challenge grant from Group Elephant, which will double the impact of donor funds.
The raised capital will enable critical aerial anti-poaching surveillance and herd monitoring, especially in Namibian wildlife corridors, supporting ERP's comprehensive approach which includes poverty eradication to combat poaching.

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Elephants, Rhinos & People (ERP), a nonprofit conservation group that uses a CubCrafters NXCub to patrol in Southern Africa, is asking for the public’s help to grow its Air Wing.

If ERP can raise $250,000 by the end of February, Group Elephant, a multinational services and software firm, has offered a matching challenge grant to help the organization meet its goal.

“Meeting the challenge will accelerate the growth of the ERP Air Wing and directly support the protection of elephants and rhinos across Southern Africa,” said Quintin Smith, director of the nonprofit, in a news release. “Elephants and rhinos face unprecedented, existential danger. Aerial surveillance can powerfully augment ground-based protection of wildlife.”

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One-hundred percent of all charitable donations made to ERP go directly into field projects. The group focuses on eliminating poaching by developing programs designed to eradicate poverty in the region.

During EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in July, ERP took delivery of its first airplane, a CubCrafters NXCub. The bushplane is used for aerial surveillance over large tracts of conservation land that serves as habitat for the highly endangered desert-adapted elephants and black rhinos.

“The challenge grant will double the impact of donor dollars and help us unlock critical resources needed for aerial anti-poaching surveillance and herd monitoring in Namibia,” said Tom Haines, ERP Air Wing project lead.

Smith said demand for consistent aerial patrols across Namibian wildlife corridors is increasing.

“We are appealing to aviation enthusiasts and conservationists to help meet this match by making a tax-deductible gift or pledge before February 28, 2026,” Smith said. “Please help us secure Group Elephant’s $250,000 in pursuit of a powerful, enduring shield for endangered wildlife.”

Donations can be made through the ERP website.