Tag: TOSCO

TOSCO & NDP working hand in hand

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The Namibian Dolphin Project (NDP),

A non-profit, research and conservation organization run by several independent scientists and educators, has been working in Walvis Bay and Lüderitz since 2008. Their primary mission is to research Namibia’s cetaceans (dolphins and whales) to generate high quality data which can then be used for conservation purposes.

The Marine Environmental Office

In 2018, with the financial support from several organisations including TOSCO (N$20 000), the NDP local research team was able to fix up the old ‘Regatta’ office, situated at the Walvis Bay Yacht Club and convert it into an office space. This was an important first step to develop the building into the Marine Environmental Office as we know it today. It has allowed them to start working with schools and communities through the Community Outreach Program. To date, they have received visits from over 600 students.

A reliable 4×4

More recently, concerned with the increasing number of dolphin and whale stranding at the coast and the pressing need to react to these strandings, the Namibian Dolphin Project once again requested TOSCO’s help, this time to replace their vehicle which had provided them with many years of loyal service. A reliable 4×4 is essential to their mission by providing transport to strandings, meetings, to assist with the launching of boats and to run the organization itself. TOSCO answered the call and came up with a few ideas to help them to collect funds…

In 2019, TOSCO contributed an initial N$ 10 000 towards this cause, followed by a further N$ 18 200 raised through an online fundraising campaign which targeted tour companies and individuals concerned by the plight of Namibian marine mammals. A heartfelt thank you goes out to the following individuals for their support: 

Oliver Adolph, Joanne Lee, Sophie Guarasci, Jack Barkowski, Greg Frankfurter, Carole Shapero, Monika Hempel, Andy Fourie, Marta Bormioli Gambardella, Melanie Czarnofske, PJ Munro, Daniel Zambrano, Pietro Vermicelli and Ruth Robinson.

Simultaneously, TOSCO created social media campaigns to raise awareness. Two companies answered the call; Sea Work and Off Road Centre. Together they contributed a total of N$ 9 500. Thank you very much for your support!

http://www.seawork.com.na
http://www.offroad-centre.com

TOSCO then also organised Yoga Sessions for Conservation on the beach in Walvis Bay and at the Nikhita Winkler Dance studio in Windhoek. A total of N$ 4 320 was raised. Thank you to the wonderful yoga teachers who animated these sessions: Ruth, Toya and Eva. 

And thank you Nikhita for opening your dance studio in Windhoek to all the yoga and NDP fans!

Thanks to the participation of many individuals concerned with the protection of Namibian marine mammals, TOSCO and NDP together successfully raised a total of N$116 250!

“The Namibian Dolphin Project has conducted research on the whales and dolphins of Namibia since 2008. Much of our work has been focused on the impact of tourism activities on these animals so a partnership with TOSCO was a natural progression for us.  TOSCO’s support of our work has allowed us to maintain key equipment like our research boat, and 4×4 vehicle and they played a key role in the funding and development of our new Marine Education Centre in Walvis Bay.  We greatly appreciate the support that TOSCO has provided us over the last few years and really look forward to seeing what develops from our on-going relationship!”

Simon Elwen PhD- Director – Namibian Dolphin Project

To find out more about the Namibian Dolphin Project and their efforts in marine conservation, click here. 

Storytelling with Watercolor

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Alice Colson grew up in the western part of France, the Loire Valley. As a child growing up in an art-loving family, she always enjoyed drawing and painting. She tried different styles of arts, like animation, ceramics and music, to discover which one of them will be better for her.  As a teenager she also took cello lessons and prepare all the big “exams” to get admitted in the Beaux-Arts (arts school). Even though she got selected to study arts, she leaned towards a public administration and political science school in Bordeaux. 

Alice Colson – TOSCO Team member

In 2019 destiny brought her to Namibia and she felt reconnected with nature and wildlife. She really enjoys the country and all the beautiful landscapes that the country has to offer.

“There are some many different landscapes, from the north to the south it varies at lot” . 

Alice

Nowadays she is developing an activity as an illustrator in parallel of her main job which is related to water resources protection and management, climate change and conservation. All this experience gives her extra motivation at the moment to work on her illustrations. 

Why using watercolors?

I like it because it very nomad. It’s very light and it fits anywhere, which allows you to take it with you wherever you go. You just need paper, water and the watercolors. I also like the contact between the water and the colors. I love finding the balance between both of them. Too much water is not good for the drawing but too little is not good either.

I’m a fast painter; I don’t see myself doing oils paintings for example… It takes several weeks to finish one piece. You have to paint, and then wait for it to dry to continue. I’m a bit impatience myself, I think.  

I also wish to tell some stories or sending messages with my paintings. So, I believe it’s easier to transmit strong messages about sensitive topics with watercolors. 

What styles are reflected in your art?

One of my styles is a quite naïve way of drawing. Clear lines, very simple faces with very clear faces expressions. I have 3 identities: the first one more classic comic stretch, the second one is more children oriented, a naïve one, and the third one is landscapes and nature, (that are in my surroundings). I feed my art with these 3 identities. 

Alice Colson – TOSCO Team member
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Community Rhino Conservation – TOSCO Supports Rhino Rangers

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UntitledNamibia’s wild rhino have a chance for survival if the local people simply do not tolerate poaching, if rhino become more valuable alive than dead – through employment and tourism. This has been at the heart of Namibia’s conservancy programme which has contributed to keeping poaching at bay in the past two decades.

But Namibian rhinos are again under siege.

Continue reading “Community Rhino Conservation – TOSCO Supports Rhino Rangers” →

The Case “Rosh” – Lions and Responsible Tourism

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On 06 July the Puros lion rangers sent this report on Rosh’s death to TOSCO:

“Dear TOSCO Team

We had a terrible incident where we discover that Rosh was shot to death.  Rosh was born in September 2004 at Uniab river and then move to Hoanib river where he spent time with the lioness of the flood plain and Okongue pride. Continue reading “The Case “Rosh” – Lions and Responsible Tourism” →