Data Privacy Summit: Camaraderie and contributing to ERP

After a successful, week-long Data Privacy Summit hosted for our data privacy professionals from all over the world, the group was given the opportunity to visit ERP’s Melorane Game Reserve, situated near Madikwe in the North West province of South Africa.

James Watson, Commercial Product Owner (Privacy & Risk), spearheaded a one-week collaborative and engaging workshop for our international privacy professionals, with the objective of being better informed about delivering value to our clients’ data privacy projects.“This week was about inspiring collaboration with like-minded people. Whether we are talking about project architecture or solution design, we’re advancing our knowledge, all while getting to know each other,” said James.

After the workshop, the group travelled to the reserve. On arriving at the picturesque campsite in the middle of the bush, the braai fires were lit and everyone had the opportunity to unwind, reflect and rest. “Our tents were already set up when we arrived, and we were able to give our international colleagues a truly South African experience right from the beginning,” says Paul Lincey, Service Consultant.

After a 5km hike on Saturday morning (and a hearty breakfast!), the group embarked on one of ERP’s important sustainability projects: building 30 beehives that would be positioned around the reserve. By placing the beehives to create a fence, wandering elephants are kept away from whatever the fence is protecting, which is, in most cases, farmable crops.

“The design of the beehive fence is wonderfully simple and elegant. Beehives are hung on poles along the perimeter of the field. Hanging from poles, they are linked to the next one in line eight metres away by a wire. That means an elephant walking between two hives will never be more than four metres from the nearest. This distance was chosen, because studies showed it to be the minimum distance elephants would approach solitary beehives in the wild.”

As a simple and cost-effective solution to the protection of crops, the underlying advantage of this fencing approach is empowerment. The local community is provided with the resources to protect their crops, while benefiting from the pollination opportunity from the bees surrounding the land.

Read more about the beehive fence initiative.

As the day progressed, the group had the privilege of getting up close and personal with some incredible wildlife. A short walk led them to the banks of a river, where they marvelled at the sight of hippos in the water. They also had the chance to learn more about how Melorane Game Reserve keeps its inhabitants safe by working with a dedicated canine unit and using drone technology. Both play an important role in anti-poaching and anti-snaring operations, wildlife detection, and general safety and security of the reserve, as well as the local community.

Sunday started off with an early morning game drive around Madikwe, a truly remarkable wildlife haven situated next door to the Melorane Game Reserve, where they were lucky to encounter impala, zebras, rhinos, and elephants. After bidding farewell to the fauna and flora, the group travelled back to Pretoria, reflecting on the unique experiences that Melorane Game Reserve had to offer.

“We're grateful for the opportunity to visit Melorane Game Reserve and discover its wonders while fostering a sense of camaraderie and teamwork. Our adventure not only allowed us to reconnect with nature but also gave us the chance to contribute to ERP’s important efforts in the area,” says James.

Find out more about Elephants, Rhinos & People (ERP) and how you can make a difference.

#TeamBuilding #WildlifeConservation #ERP #MeloraneGameReserve #EPIUSELabs #BeeFence