Kenya is our laboratory where we develop remote sensing for elephants, and is the centre of our research, protection, grass roots, and communication programmes. We are now using GSM (cell telephone) units, with elephants sending regular text messages of their whereabouts. Understanding elephant dispersal and vital corridors that link safe havens one to another will help us advise government and stakeholders on wise land use and elephant management strategies.

 


West Africa’s elephants live in fragmented groups amongst dense human populations. We study rare surviving desert elephants, in the Gourma region of Mali, living in extreme conditions or heat and aridity, where the Sahara meets a scattering of trees and shrubs. With the government and partner NGOs we seek ways to secure their future with nomadic people, Touareg, Pheuls and others that share this land, and whose traditional tolerance has granted the elephants survival until now.

The Forest Elephant GPS Telemetry Program was initiated in 1998 in response to the near complete lack of information on the home range requirements, ranging patterns, and seasonal movements of forest elephants in central African forests. Savannah elephants use thousands of square kilometers when their ranging is unrestricted, and if forest elephants have similarly large area requirements, range management and national park design must be developed on an adequate scale. Operational in 3 nations, 6 national parks, and across a wide variety of habitats, this study provides critical information to land-use planners, park managers, and governments.

Based on private land adjoining the greater Kruger savannah ecosystem we have a research centre and scientists that track elephants, including some of Africa's biggest tuskers, from the private reserves to the national park, and soon we will follow them across international boundaries too.

We identify individual elephants, study population dynamics and habitat use, and examine the effects of elephants on key tree species. We experiment with methods of alleviating elephant tree damage and provide scientific knowledge to all stake holders.