Man On A Mission

MURRAY “MUZZA” MONROE tells us why raising awareness of conservation issues – and helping orphaned elephants along the way – is his priority, and how we can help

- Amy Brook-Partridge

Muzza Monroe is a man on a mission. A New Zealander with a passion for the environment and wildlife, he’s travelled the world for the past 23 years, assisting in conservation projects and focusing on animal welfare.

His work has included campaigning for orphaned baby elephant Bona in 2012; 18 months old at the time, Bona was an orphaned juvenile in the care at the Seblat Elephant Conservation Centre (ECC) in Sumatra, Indonesia. She was rescued in April 2011 from a palmoil plantation, after she was found wandering alone. It’s believed her mother was one of seven adult elephants discovered later, poisoned by palm-oil farmers.

Muzza, along with two of his friends, successfully spearheaded the campaign to save Bona, raising funds to help pay for her life-saving supplements and milk powder. She’s now a happy, healthy six-year-old elephant.

Now the heat is on to help another orphaned elephant, Payichit, who was found in Aceh Province. Payichit was found alone and starving on a palm oil plantation; his mother had been shot dead and the rest of his herd fled, leaving Payichit behind to fend for himself. Murray says that the one-year-old elephant is small, helpless and abandoned, and in urgent need of help.

How is the campaign going?