PRINCE BERNHARD'S MODEL ELEPHANTS FOR SALE

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http://www.panda.org/news_facts/newsroom/news.cfm?uNewsID=23617

 

Royal elephants auctioned for conservation

2 Oct 2005

Apeldoorn, the Netherlands – A vast array of elephant collectables of the late

WWF Founder-President HRH Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands was auctioned by

Sotheby’s at Het Loo Palace, a former royal residence of the Dutch House of

Orange.

 

The €379,250 raised from the auction will go to WWF conservation efforts in

Borneo.

 

“This auction has risen far more than we ever dared imagine,” said Niek van

Heijst, CEO of WWF-Netherlands. “We are extremely pleased that so many people,

by buying one of the prince’s elephants, contributed to the protection of

Borneo’s forests.”

 

Shortly before his death last year, Prince Bernhard expressed in a television

interview his concern for the future of Borneo’s forest habitat, which is home

to the threatened orang-utan and pygmy elephants. These forests are under severe

threat from illegal logging and forest-fires, as well being cleared for such

commercial uses as rubber, pulp production, and palm oil.

 

“Looking into the eyes of an orphaned baby orang-utan is a look you'll never

forget,” the Prince said about his own experience from visiting the region.

 

Known as the 'Flying Prince of Conservation', for his love of flying and his

dedication to nature conservation, Prince Bernhard was a driving force behind

the creation of WWF in 1961, and served as the organization's first

International President from 1961 to 1976. For the next 25 years, he continued

to play a pivotal role in international efforts to promote conservation and

ensure the protection of the natural world.

 

Prince Bernhard played a central role in many of the achievements of WWF. He was

deeply involved in the creation of numerous nature reserves, including the

Chitwan National Park in Nepal, tiger reserves in India, Biebrza National Park

in Poland, and the Taï National Park in Côte d'Ivoire. In 1973, he was active in

encouraging a number of Asian governments to help set up Operation Tiger, whose

aim was to save the tiger from extinction.

 

The elephant was Prince Bernhard’s favourite animal and during his lifetime

amassed a collection of 1,000 elephants in all shapes and sizes, ranging from

precious art objects and wood carvings to stuffed animals and toys.

 

An elephant donated by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, the daughter of Prince

Bernhard, raised €7,500 at the auction, while a bronze elephant made by Belgian

sculptor Tremont sold for €16,000 and an elephant clock from the 19th century

sold for €11,000.

 

" I have never led an auction where every single item was sold, " said Sotheby’s

auction leader Patrick van Maris van Dijk. " It was clear that not only did

people very much want to have a personal item in remembrance of the prince, but

that they also wanted to support WWF. A terrific combination.”

 

A small number of elephants will remain in the possession of the royal family in

remembrance of the prince.

 

For further information:

Clarisse Buma, Head of Press

WWF-Netherlands

Tel: +31 30 693 7374