Brewing a better future

THE J. C. Jacobsen Foundation, into its 31st year collaborating with Zoo Negara where elephant conservation is concerned, made a RM20,000 donation in support of the three Pahang-born elephants Siti, Sibol and Teriang.
CHAMPIONING A CAUSE
The foundation is the philanthropic arm of Carlsberg Malaysia and has championed elephant conservation through the sponsorship of Siti, Sibol and Teriang who are 37, 38 and 36 years old respectively. The recent cash sponsorship will go towards the upkeep of the three elephants.
Recipient of the funds, the Malaysian Zoological Society, decided to host a special “engagement day” for representatives of the foundation. The “guests” were given an exclusive tour of the elephants’ home and were educated on their diet, welfare and personalities by the caretakers. Siti and Sibol received extra pampering that day as the visitors fed them papayas and bananas during the tour.
“We urge members of the public to combat elephant poaching by boycotting elephant ivory trading and stop illegal elephant hunting that may constitute cruelty and threat to the survival of Malaysia’s elephants,” said J. C. Jacobsen Foundation executive director Pearl Lai at the cheque presentation ceremony held in December
CAUSE OF GREAT CONCERN
“Thanks to the iconic Elephant Gate in Copenhagen, the Danish community can easily relate elephants with Carlsberg. The son of Carlsberg founder J.C. Jacobsen constructed four life-sized elephant sculptures to represent his four surviving children, hoping that they could have the strength and faithfulness of elephants,” said the wife of Danish ambassador to Malaysia Astrid Ruge.
“According to the Great Elephant Census website, the world’s elephant population is in drastic decline. The number of African elephants alone has dropped by 30% between 2007 and 2014, primarily due to poaching, to supply the growing ivory market.
The J. C. Jacobsen Foundation not only champions elephant conservation awareness in Malaysia by living the legacy of the founder of Carlsberg, but also supports the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 15.9 (c) to enhance global support in their efforts to combat poaching and trafficking of protected species,” added Ruge.
FRIEND OF THE ELEPHANT
At the zoo to get their hands dirty and learn more about these gentle giants were representative of the foundation Anna Torin Lehmann (wife to Carlsberg Malaysia managing director Lars Lehmann), their son Julius, along with Ruge, her daughter Xenia, and others.
The three elephants reside in a large enclosure at the zoo. They are allowed to move around comfortably in an area equipped with a water feature. To learn more about Siti, Sibol and Teriang, take a trip to Zoo Negara or visit the zoo’s official website.