A CONSERVATIONIST couple will embark upon a jumbo fundraising drive to save endangered elephants.

On July 2, Amanda and Barry Butler, from Peatmoor, will drive more than 1,000 miles in three days and visit 35 elephant named watering holes along the way to highlight the illegal ivory trade.

The 35 different locations will represent every 1,000 elephants killed illegally each year due to poaching and trading of ivory.

To capture the public’s attention the pair will be joined by cardboard elephants, one-metre high Jambo and 50cm Jelani, named from the Swahili words for Hello and Mighty.

They are fundraising for the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation which works to save critically endangered animals in the wild. All money raised will go towards DSWF’s Elephant Orphanage Project in Zambia which cares of young elephant orphans and prepares them for life in the wild.

Amanda, a teacher at Brook Field Primary School, said she fell in love with Africa when visiting Zimbabwe on her honeymoon 20 years ago.

“It was amazing to see these wild animals in their natural habitat as they should be but that is at greater threat each year,” the 47-year-old said.

“What scares me is that if we continue at the rate we are going, in 10 years there won’t be any elephants or any of these beautiful animals left in the world.

“We should be keeping the world at balance. Elephants are the main creatures in crisis and if they continue at the rate they’re going there won’t be any left. It’s a horrible statistic that 35,000 elephants die each year due to greed.”

“What started as an interest 2 years ago has become a passion. I truly believe the future of our planet is in our hands. It is our co-existence with all living creatures that keeps the world in balance. We need to do something now, before it’s too late. As an ambassador for DSWF I can engage, encourage and excite other people’s passion.”

The couple hope eye-catching mascots Jambo and Jelani will attract attention to their cause.

“People may think I’m mad carrying an elephant about but it is getting the message out there that this killing of animals has to stop and that humans have no right to destroy them,” mother-of-one Amanda said,

Their Jumbo Drive begins at Colchester Zoo, whose charitable arm, Action For The Wild supports the Elephant Orphanage Project. They will finish at DSWF’s headquarters in Shalford, Guildford on July 4.

Amanda and Barry are aiming to raise £2,000, to donate visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Jumbodrive2016