In Africa, farmers use the spicy chemical in locally grown chilis to keep elephants away from other crops. And in a unique marketing campaign designed to help farmers and save elephants, a line of Elephant Pepper chili products is now being sold in the United States.The goal, in a cooperative effort between African farmers and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), is “to create new economic opportunities for rural Africans and support efforts to safely reduce the conflict between elephants and humans in Africa,” according to a WCS statement.
Elephants do not like capsaicin, the chemical in chilis that makes them hot. So farmers surround maize and other crops with buffers of chilis. They also mixed crushed chilis with used grease and smear it on fences. And they mix chili with animal dung to make briquettes, then burn them at night to create a noxious smoke.
Chilies are also sold to the Elephant Pepper brand for hot sauce products, which have been marketed in South Africa, Zambia, Botswana. They are now available in the United States, the WCS announced today.
Proceeds from the sales of the products are then donated to Elephant Pepper Development Trust.
“The Elephant Pepper product line now offers U.S. consumers a means of supporting both elephants and sustainable development in Africa,” said James Deutsch, director of WCS’ Africa Program.
The products are available at www.elephantpepper.com.
“Our major challenge is to identify a distributor who would like to get involved with this socially responsible brand, and contribute to economic development in Africa,” explained Marketing Manager Nina Gibson. “The brand needs a partner who will see the long-term benefit of the project.”
28 responses to “Buy Hot Sauce, Save an Elephant”
I just bought 2 of each – one for the shelf and one each to try!
[Comment ID #47027 Quote]
Will you be posting reviews soon? Or should I just order a couple anyway? Hmm, I like elephants. I think I’ll buy some 🙂
Hmmmmm, makes me wonder what elephants taste like. 🙂
[Comment ID #47030 Quote]
I’ll review them when they come in, but that could take a while
I’ts good to see people being socially responsible with respect to both people and these beautiful animals also. Almost every endangered animal I saw yesterday, was endangered due to #1 the use of pesticides and #2 human encroachment in nature. Nice to see a natural solution being implemented for the age old dilemma of people and animals having to share space.
[Comment ID #47032 Quote]
LOL.
Hey Bret are you gonna tell me THT needs to come out with a sauce that tastes good on elephant now?
Morning all…………………
Morning Mr. Freeze, we’ve got another 90 degree day here.
Hot sauce, with a great cause…….
[Comment ID #47037 Quote]
Hmmmmm. No they already have it. Somebody told me fruit base sauce works real good.
Dk I’m thinking Elephant.
[Comment ID #47042 Quote]
Morning Kristi….It is suppose to be 85 and rainy here, but they also said it was suppose to rain yesterday and nothing……..You heading to the fair today ???
Looks interesting!
When did the list go to 30 (commenters)? I like it!
Heat capsaicin is more than noxious. Mustard gas-esque
[Comment ID #47117 Quote]
I prefer chlorine gas, just the amazingly fast way it turns to acid in your lungs. Makes it great fun at parties. Another personal favorite is pure horseradish oil. Don’t even need to heat it up, just a little drop on a table, and let the fun begin.
[Comment ID #47118 Quote]
You have way to much fun with this stuff Creator……….
[Comment ID #47032 Quote]
[Comment ID #47049 Quote]
Tastes like…………….chicken! Thought I was gonna say something else didn’t ya! Actually since that something else tastes like chicken, then technically elephant must taste like…… 😉 😀
What a great idea. We are big supporters of the WWF and this sounds like a good cause to support as well.
[Comment ID #47119 Quote]
Yeah, I kinda do…Blame it on my ill-spent youth.
I still like my idea of injecting a bit of extract into a paintball, and tagging tree rats. It’s fun to see them lick off the paint. 😀
[Comment ID #47170 Quote]
I have a paintball gun may have to try that to keep to varmints away from my garden……..That would be cool …………..
[Comment ID #47089 Quote]
That’s cool but I won’t even make that as I still don’t count (no numbers)
[Comment ID #47173 Quote]
It’s a lot of fun. I lived in a garden apartment complex years ago, and the long parking garage was out my back window. The squirrels would run across the roof ridge back and forth, it was like an old fashioned shooting gallery. And the kids loved it, “Mommy, look at the little blue squirrel”. A laugh a minute. Cripes, I’ll probably get The PETA cretins on me now, like I care. I grew up with those rabid tree rats in the walls and attics of various homes I lived in, they cause major damage, and have been known to eat thru electrical wires behind walls and start fires. Many say they’re cute, yeah, ok, and so is a bloated raccoon on the side of the highway for a week in 100+ degree weather.
Good morning all!
[Comment ID #47032 Quote]
Who cares? I’ve never seen a grille big enough to handle an elephant.
[Comment ID #47418 Quote]
Sure you have, place a titanium grate over the mouth of a volcano. 🙂
Hey pmac, I’m guessing you’re in a really good mood right about now??? lol
My order arrived today – will taste test soon!