A STUDENT from Ilkley is to jump out of a plane to help save elephants in Kenya.

Ben Moran, 18, of Queen's Drive Lane, is hoping to travel to Africa to take part in a project to asses elephant numbers with the Yorkshire Schools Exploring Society.

And he is aiming to raise money for the trip by taking part in a sponsored parachute jump.

Ben (above) said: "The elephant population has been growing over the last few years and is now wandering into villages in Kenya for food. The local people are becoming very upset about it and a mass culling project has been proposed - in fact there have already been a few cullings."

Part of the counting project will involve noting down the number of elephant dung heaps, and Ben said: "I am hoping to conserve a population of elephants, and its a great cause. Everyone's very concerned about it - and no-one really wants to cull the elephants, so its worthwhile going to assess the elephants, and seeing if they are really causing a threat to the local population."

Ben has already raised money for the expedition in a variety of ways - including car boot sales and fund-raising events at school.

Now he is set to take a parachute plunge in May to raise money for the expedition, which is to take place at the end of July.

He said: "It's a free fall, which involves falling a certain distance before you open the parachute. I'm quite nervous about it. Before I go there will be a training session, but the instructor will be strapped to my back."

Ben is appealing for local companies and people in the area to sponsor his parachute jump. Anyone interested can telephone him on Ilkley 609260.

l The Yorkshire Schools Exploring Society organises projects and expeditions abroad for people aged 15 -19 in full-time education in Yorkshire and Humberside. The society is now recruiting members for next year's schemes and can be contacted on 01943 468049.

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