Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE)
The most reliable continental measure of poaching pressure is the Monitoring of Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE) programme, established by the UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). There are around 50 MIKE sites across Africa.
The Samburu-Laikipia MIKE site in Kenya is the most data-rich on the continent, and is coordinated by Save the Elephants. Every elephant carcass that is heard about is visited by either our team or one of our partners and cause of death assessed. One measure that results from the MIKE program, the ‘Proportion of Illegally Killed Elephants’ (PIKE), gives an index of poaching pressure that is independent of the resources put into detection of carcasses.
In 2012, 72% of dead elephants had been poached, indicating crisis-levels of poaching and a population in steep decline. By 2014 this had been reduced to 48%, a level at which births exceed deaths, and in the first quarter of 2015 the PIKE was reduced to 37% – a level that it had not descended to since before the crisis hit the area.
Save The Elephants and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) have been collaborating with CITES on their monitoring illegal killing and hunting of elephants project since 2002. STE coordinates MIKE harmonisation meetings to collate elephant mortality statistics with numerous partners in both Samburu-Laikipia and the Masai Mara including the Northern Rangelands Trust, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, the Samburu Trust, Space for Giants and the Mara Elephant Project.
More Projects Under Research
Donate
The fate of elephants is in the balance. The record price of ivory has attracted organised crime, rebel militias and even terrorist groups, fuelling a surge of poaching across the continent. Without the outstanding support and generosity of our donors, STE would not be able to continue securing a future for the elephants. We urgently need your support, while there is still time. You can be of vital assistance by donating to either our core funds or to any of our projects.
Spread the Word
The fate of elephants is in the balance. The record price of ivory has attracted organised crime, rebel militias and even terrorist groups, fuelling a surge of poaching across the continent. Without the outstanding support and generosity of our donors, STE would not be able to continue securing a future for the elephants. We urgently need your support, while there is still time. You can be of vital assistance by donating to either our core funds or to any of our projects.
How You Can Help
Over the last years our world-leading conservation efforts have been possible thanks to the dedication and generosity of loyal supporters. To join them you can donate in a number of ways:
Elephants are facing intense threats to their survival in many parts of Africa. The Elephant Crisis Fund provides rapid, catalytic support for the most effective projects designed to stop the killing of elephants for ivory, reduce conflict between humans and elephants, and safeguard important elephant landscapes.
Save the Elephants is funded almost entirely by private donations. It is only through the generous support of donors that we are able to continue our important elephant conservation work. We rely entirely on funds, grants and donations from around the world, so thank you for helping us to secure a future for these fascinating creatures.
Our unique brand of conservation education encourages students to become ambassadors of their rich environment. We also give opportunities to friends around the world to help educate young minds and improve the infrastructure of their schools. Sponsor a child & help build a future for wildlife.