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MOSSEL BAY NEWS AND VIDEO - It would never occur to most people to wonder whether gin could be made from elephant dung. But Paula Ansley is not most people and this idea did occur to her.
Indlovu Gin, flavoured by botanicals extracted from elephant dung, is the brainchild of Paula and her husband, Les.
The dung from which the botanicals are extracted comes from the elephants on Botlierskop Private Game Reserve, which Paula and Les visit three to four times a year to collect the dung.
Like other gins, Indlovu Gin is flavoured by juniper, coriander, orris root, angelica and citrus. However, it is the diet of the elephants which contributes the flavours of buchu, acacia, guarii and erica to its unique flavour profile.
Paula got the idea for this unique gin while on holiday in Kenya. Sipping a gin and tonic while on a game drive, she listened as the game ranger explained that elephants only digest 30 percent of what they eat, while the rest of the plant matter is left behind in their dung.
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A former scientist, Paula used the skills of her academic training to connect the dots and the idea behind Indlovu Gin was born.
Photo gallery: Elephant dung gin from Botlierskop
While Paula is the creative force in the business, Indlovu Gin would never have been realised if it weren't for the support of Les. Paula told the Mossel Bay Advertiser: "I think if he hadn't believed in me at that time and hadn't given me the encouragement, the gin would never have came about." Truly a team effort.
Paula has lent her skills to the social media and marketing side of the business, while Les, who is also a former scientist, deals with logistics, production and finance.
Paula, a British expat and Les, a South African, moved their family back to South Africa in 2017 after living in the UK for 15 years, where they could merge their passion for giving back and their desire to start a business.
In keeping with their commitment to giving back, 15 percent of the profits of Indlovu Gin are donated to Africa Foundation, a conservation-focused non-profit organisation, to help in the conservation efforts at Phinda Game Reserve.
Les told the Advertiser making sure that giving back was a part of their business model was essential to them. The Ansleys are incredibly proud of the "virtuous circle" they have created with their business, with the elephants producing the dung that makes the gin which eventually funds conservation efforts to protect the elephants themselves.
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