San Clemente resident starts nonprofit to protect elephants

Scott Struthers saw his first wild elephant at age 15 during a trip to Africa with his parents. As a biologist, his father knew the only way his son could truly appreciate elephants’ majesty was to see them in their natural habitat.

Since then, the San Clemente resident has been captivated by the animals — especially how loving and caring they are with their young — and is committed to seeing the species survive. This is an uphill battle considering that studies show African elephants could become extinct in the wild within a decade unless the illegal ivory trade is stopped.

“I’ve had people say there is a cause for everything,” Struthers said. “The only thing different about our cause is if we don’t take care of the elephants now they simply won’t be here for my grandchildren.”

Struthers, a manufacturer of luxury home audio systems and car accessories, founded the nonprofit Elephant Cooperation not only to protect elephants but also to help people across the African continent build stronger communities.

“You can’t only help the elephants, you have to help the people as well,” Struthers said.

British daily newspaper the Guardian reported last year that elephant poaching has a measurable negative impact on African countries’ economies. Researchers studying poaching’s effects across 25 African countries estimated tourism revenue lost because of the killings at $25 million per year.

As a proponent of entrepreneurial philanthropy, Struthers said developing businesses to support nonprofit operations provides a stable revenue stream in case donations drop off.

A prime example is Elephant Cooperation’s partnership with Shoes for Crews to sell 400,000 donated pairs of shoes at reduced prices in South Africa. The proceeds provided two years of funding for the Lindbergh Foundation’s anti-poaching drone program called Air Shepherd. The unmanned aerial vehicles allow conservationists in Botswana to report poachers faster and allow rangers to cover more ground.

The organization also has campaigned to prevent potentially deadly conflicts between elephants and people. One of these projects is a campaign to drill water wells for elephants who might otherwise risk venturing into villages during droughts. Another is a fundraising effort to help African farmers build greenhouses that protect their crops from hungry elephants.

“A lot of the people killing animals are killing to eat or killing because the elephants are destroying their property,” Struthers said.

A central component of Elephant Cooperation’s operation is coordinating philanthropic and voluntary missions for Americans to visit African sites where the organization is making an impact and sanctuaries for baby elephants.

Since Elephant Cooperation was awarded nonprofit status in 2016, its fundraising efforts have ramped up. In 2016, the organization reported an income of $283,884, according to guidestar.org. The nonprofit also reported in November 2017 that George Argyros Jr. spearheaded a fundraising gala at the Resort at Pelican Hill which raised more than $900,000 for its operations.

Argyros Jr. said he, his wife and their foundation strongly support Elephant Cooperation’s efforts to save elephants through education and supporting African communities.

“I first got involved by witnessing one of its portfolio projects on the ground that utilizes drones that fly at night when poachers operate,” Argyros Jr. wrote in a statement. “As a pilot and lover of anything that flies, and because of my passion for saving all animals, I felt compelled to lend my time and support.”

When asked whether he believes conservationists are winning the fight to save elephants, Struthers said the war is being won in certain areas.

“African Parks are doing an amazing job of taking a park that has been neglected for years and has almost been poached out and turning it into something that looks more like Yellowstone National Park,” he said.

For more information, visit elephantcooperation.com.

Daniel Langhorne is a contributor to Times Community News.