Yirmed Demeke

Director, WSD

The challenges for future survival of elephants in Ethiopia are yet ahead of us. Poachers, looking for the ivory trade, kill these splendid animals with brutal efficiency. Habitat loss due to human pressure also limits the elephants’ range and places added stress on the remaining herds. Likewise, as their habitats continue to be reduced, the elephant must compete with other wildlife as well as humans and their livestock. As a result, the present projects supported with satellite telemetry aim at securing the long-term survival of elephants in the east and north Ethiopia and the satellite data received from the collared elephants for the coming two years will prove itself indispensable in furthering this aim.

The use of the Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite telemetry on elephants in Ethiopia was initiated in February 2007. These projects are among the major components of our initiative in the national elephant conservation and management in Ethiopia. Three bulls were successfully fitted with GPS satellite collars. “Goliath” became the project’s first “satellite” elephant followed by “Big Daddy” which was darted down on the 1st of September at 12:30 AM. Same day in the afternoon, Dr. Zahoor Kashmiri was victorious in knocking down the biggest of all bulls in the Sanctuary, Right-tusked, measuring 3.6 m. At present the position of collared elephants has been recorded every hour but will change this at 3 hours reading per day (eight positions per 24 hours) and these will continue for a minimum of two years.