The
fitting of collars, will be conducted by a team of scientists,
researchers and veterinarians from the partnering organisations.
 |
| Mother and calf in Amboseli Tsavo ecosystem (Photo ObedM) |
In
this second exercise in year 2013, three pre-selected females and one
male will be fitted with the collars. In February 2013, six elephants –
four males and two females – were collared at Olgulului, Mbirikani,
Selengei and Kuku group ranches bringing to 66 tracking collars on
elephant in the country.
The
collars, which transmit a satellite and radio signal, will help KWS map
out the elephants’ migratory and dispersal routes - critical areas
utilized by the elephants, and identify how expansively the elephants
travel in search of water and food .
KWS,
IFAW, and SFS have been tracking elephant populations around the
Amboseli ecosystem to determine their needs for space and resources, and
ultimately help mitigate human-elephant conflict. Over the years, an
increasing human population and land use changes have meant that
elephants have less and less space to use.
The
exercise aims at effectively equipping KWS to design intervention
measures for human-elephant conflict mitigation as well as mount
security operations.
“Monitoring
elephant movements in the Amboseli ecosystem is a fundamental
prescription of Kenya’s national elephant conservation and management
strategy and this scientific study will go a long way in generating
accurate, almost real time and up to date information that is critical
for managing and conserving elephants on one hand and enhancing local
people’s livelihoods on the other,” said Dr. Charles Musyoki, the Head
of Species Research Programs at KWS.
It
is expected that the study result will help make a case for the
connection of the elephant’s favoured habitats by securing critical
corridors and securing the areas that are essential for sustaining
Amboseli’s rich wildlife heritage.
According
to Steve Njumbi, Head of Programs - IFAW, East Africa, the satellite
collars will save the lives of both elephants and human populations in
the long run.
“Using
science we can understand where and how the elephants in this area move
about, and we can use this information to help us prioritize
human-elephant conflict interventions, as well as save the migratory
routes that elephants in this area have been using for millennia.
“Seen
in human terms, the information we gather will give us an elephant’s
eye view of optimum lifestyle standards for these giant creatures,” he
said.
Prof.
Moses Okello, Senior Director of the SFS Center for Wildlife Management
Studies in Kenya and Tanzania says that elephants need space and
resources in order to be free, viable and to fulfill the flagship role
they play in East Africa.
“The
IFAW, KWS, and SFS partnership brings together our organizations'
shared passion, vision, research, and management resources to help
enhance the population, range and viability of the charismatic Amboseli
elephant,” he said.
The
joint study is part of IFAW’s Amboseli Project, which includes
enhancing KWS’ law enforcement capabilities, leasing critical corridors
and dispersal areas in community land, creating conservation awareness
and local capacity for ecotourism ventures, and mitigating
human-elephant conflict. The study is also a component of the SFS Center
for Wildlife Management Studies Five Year Research Plan which examines
how land use and resource availability in the Amboseli ecosystem can be
managed to foster the well-being of local communities as well as
safeguarding biodiversity conservation.
A
recent dry season joint Kenya/Tanzania census in October 2013 for
elephants and other large mammals in Amboseli ecosystem estimated a
total of 1193 elephants compared to a similar dry season in October
2010 count of 1065. It is estimated that most of these elephants spend
80 per cent of their time outside Amboseli National Park.
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