Contact Admin. The completion of this exercise will make a total of 20 GPS satellite collars fitted on adult elephants within and outside core areas of Selous Ecosystem. The fitting of satellite collars with improved technology, will facilitate the collection of real time data for their effective monitoring and ensure security to large mammal movements and especially the elephants that have, in recent years, been challenged by poaching.
The fitted GPS collars will also strengthen elephant conservation efforts in Selous Game Reserve by alerting rangers and field teams where each elephant family with elephants fitted with GPS collars are heading to and help move them away from cropland and reduce the risk of human-elephant conflicts.
It will also identify critical habitats, seasonal dispersal areas and corridors for elephants that may require enhanced protection. Selous once supported over 90, elephants but the population was reduced to less than 15, by due to poaching and illegal ivory trade with China being the major market. However China has shown its commitment to the fight against poaching by closing all the ivory market. The use of satellite collars technology is proven as an effective measure to monitor wildlife movements and at providing a security function.
We at WWF hope that this exercise will enhance the security that is needed to protect elephants especially from poaching. The Greater Selous ecosystem requires special attention of all concerned conservation partners because it is the only area that can guarantee a sufficient space for elephants and other wildlife but it is also of ecological importance because it is home to huge, diverse and exceptional Miombo and Savanna ecosystem as well as a designated World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
The collaring exercise which began in December targeting 60 elephants is being done in phases dictated by prevailing weather conditions. Only one elephant will be collared in a herd; elephants found in Wildlife Management Areas or outside core protected areas will be preferred to be fitted a unit than those in a core area. Login Signup.
