The Real World Store is the online store for UK based safari specialist Real Africa. Via their charity the Real Africa Trust (UK registered charity No 1149508) they sell a range of merchandise on the Real World Store with profits donated to wildlife conservation partners. Real Africa's Tshirt campaign aims to sell 1100 Tshirts this Christmas in aid of charity Save the Elephants, raising enough money to pay for a squad of 3 anti-poaching scouts to work for one year.

Save the Elephants (STE), founded by Dr Iain Douglas Hamilton is just one of the charities which Real Africa works closely with. Real Africa has raised over £12,000 for Save the Elephants in the last 15 months alone.

Save the Elephants conduct vital research on elephant behaviour and ecology and pioneered GPS radio tracking in Africa to provide fresh insight into the life of elephants. After 18 years of intensive monitoring the elephants of Samburu, Kenya are one of the world's best-studied populations. They also assist in implementing a UN-level programme to monitor the illegal killing of elephants. Solid scientific data has helped shift international policy towards a better future for the species.

The ivory trade and accelerating habitat and range loss have put African elephant populations at risk. The number of elephants remaining in Africa is uncertain, but are likely to be in the region of 400,00- 500,000. The ivory trade is fuelling organised crime and insecurity as traffickers smuggle tusks through the same networks as other high value illegal goods such as drugs. Ultimately the trade is driven by demand for ivory in consumer countries, mostly in the East, where it is sought after as a status symbol and an investment. With the price of wholesale raw ivory tripling in recent years and African elephants being slaughtered at a rate of 100 a day, it is entirely possible that the species will be extinct in the next decade without urgent global action.

The money raised by Real Africa from a single elephant Tshirt is enough to support an anti-poaching ranger for 1 day. Every single purchase counts and by buying any of the items from the Real World Store, shoppers are directly contributing to conservation. Other items include handmade solid silver elephant pendants and gourmet coffee.  

Visit the store at realworldstore.co.uk

Ringspun cotton elephant Tshirts £15-£20 including VAT

Solid silver elephant pendants from £150 including VAT