Air Shepherd Collaboration with Elephant Cooperation

I am writing to inform you about an organizational change in the Air Shepherd program, designed to position it for continued growth.

Since its inception in February 2015, the Lindbergh Foundation has worked with its partners to establish Air Shepherd as an effective use of drones to combat elephant and rhino poaching. Chief among our partners were UAV & Drone Solutions (UDS), and Elephant Cooperation.

UDS is a drone operating company based in Johannesburg, South Africa. UDS, led by Otto Werdmuller von Elgg, has been running Air Shepherd’s drone operations in Africa from its inception.

Elephant Cooperation, based in San Clemente, California, is a 501(c)3 devoted to saving the African elephant through funding organizations and projects that are affected by the plight in Africa. Our relationship with Elephant Cooperation began a few years ago at an anti-poaching summit held at Cisco’s headquarters and further developed from there. Once Scott Struthers founded Elephant Cooperation based on his passion for saving elephants, Air Shepherd became one of the organization’s first portfolio projects and business deals were created to help provide funding for additional missions. Elephant Cooperation donors have always been enthralled by the innovation of Air Shepherd and its impact on anti-poaching efforts.

With your support, the Lindbergh Foundation has worked with UDS to accomplish a great deal. We commence operations in South Africa, expanded Zimbabwe and Malawi, and are now positioned to fly in Botswana. We have been successful in building awareness of the plight of the African elephant and rhino, as we worked to publicize the work of Air Shepherd in major media outlets. We have also engaged with technology partners that will help us make our drones more effective.

These are the building blocks of a program that is built to last.

Having put in place all the foundational elements required for Air Shepherd’s further growth, the Lindbergh Foundation is pleased to announce that the leadership of Air Shepherd will now shift to UDS for Africa-based drone operations, and through it, to Elephant Cooperation for U.S. based program support. This new structure positions the program for growth and paves the way for Air Shepherd to become an even more significant force in environmental conservation throughout the world.

We would like to emphasized that this change will not impact your ability to support Air Shepherd. The program needs your support and we hope that you will continue to stay engaged. Over the next few weeks, you will start to receive regular communications for Elephant Cooperation about Air Shepherd’s progress, including a periodic newsletter. You will also receive updated information about our donation channels and web/social media properties.

The Lindbergh Foundation will continue to maintain its strong association with Air Shepherd. Elephant and rhino poaching in Africa continues to be a critical threat, but the Air Shepherd solution is making a difference. Thank you for your support of the Lindbergh Foundation, and your continued support of Air Shepherd.