My story with Elephant Family
Little did I know how much one man could have such a big impact on the lives of elephants as well as on my own. I went to hear a talk at the Royal Geographical Society in the early nineties by Mark Shand. He had taken it upon himself to buy an elephant, Tara and ride it across India. In fact he couldn’t have known before he set out on this fantastic journey that it was to shape the rest of his life. He came to realise the plight of the Asian elephant (in the past century their numbers have plummeted by 80%) and then unlike most people he did something about it. He set up the charity Elephant Family.
I can’t say I was so courageous after hearing his talk, I did nothing. However, over 15 years later in 2009 I received a highly unusual email asking if I would like to paint an elephant! – well a sculpture of one anyway.
This was the start of my relationship with this amazing charity, in 2015 they made me an ambassador as well as their in house artist. In 2025, the joint presidents of Elephant Family, their Majesties the King and Queen presented the Tara Award to me. I am beyond thrilled and still reeling to be given this award. When I think back to my childhood collecting ornaments of elephants…. this is beyond my wildest dreams to be working with this incredible charity that is making such a difference in conservation and coexistence with these magnificent creatures.
- Rebecca Campbell
