borderland conservation database meeting report
DESCRIPTION
February 2013TRANSCRIPT
VENUE: Lale’enok Resource Centre Olkiramatian, Magadi. KENYA
10-12 February 2013
Report Compiled by African Conservation Centre
ORGANISED BY
AFRICAN
CONSERVATION
CENTRE AND
WILDLIFE
CONSERVATION
SOCIETY
Kenya-Tanzania Borderlands Elephant
Database Meeting
With Support from:
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INTRODUCTION
The elephant database meeting, held in the South Rift on February 11th and 12th at the Lale'enok Centre, followed on from a workshop held in Arusha in February 2012. The Arusha workshop, titled Conserving Elephants in the Tanzania-Kenya Borderlands: Forging a Collaborative Approach, agreed that three levels of collaboration were needed to conserve a meta-population of elephants in the Tanzania-Kenya borderlands, stem poaching and ensure local communities benefited from wildlife. The three levels involved government-to-government coordination, mobilizing local communities to engage in conservation, and establishing a common database and monitoring program to track and monitoring elephant movements, poaching, conflict and other activities in the region. The government-to-government coordination has continued to tighten in response to
increased elephant poaching over the last year.
Two community meetings were held following the Arusha workshop. The first was
held in Longido, Tanzania, the second in Namanga, Kenya. Both were convened by
ACC and the South Rift Association of Landowners. The communities deliberated
the findings of the Arusha meeting and drew up recommendations for mobilizing
communities in the key elephant ranges identified by the Arusha workshop. The
communities recognized the need to establish scouts and wildlife conservation areas
as a way to stem elephant poaching and ensure local benefits. They also pointed to
the need to stem human-elephant conflict as a matter of urgency. The NGOs and
governments should, however, recognize that communities regard lion and other
large carnivore conflict with people as much of a problem as elephant-human
conflict. The communities want both sources of conflict to be tackled together, not
separately.
A proposal was drawn up by ACC and SORALO on the recommendations of the two
community meetings and submitted to the Liz Claiborne Art Ortenberg Foundation.
The funding is seen as a way to jump-start the community conservation programs,
with the expectation that other NGOs working in the borderlands will take over the
bulk of funding as soon as possible.
The Lale'enok meeting, convened by ACC and WCS with the support of the Liz Claiborne Art Ortenberg Foundation, brought together the conservation organizations working in the trans-border area. The meeting was convened to establish a common database and agree on a collaborative framework for coordination information related to elephant conservation and management in the region.
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POACHING IN THE TANZANIA-KENYA BORDERLANDS
The meeting opened with a discussion on poaching. It was noted that the poaching threat to elephants in the Tanzania-Kenya borderlands had risen sharply since the Arusha meeting last February. The rising threat reinforced the need for rapid conservation measures and close collaboration between communities, NGOs, researchers and government agencies working in the region. Michael Lenaimado briefed the meeting on the situation in the Loita region. He reported that poaching syndicates were infiltrating the communities, with young Maasai men joining in and helping poachers. The poaching in Loita threatens to spill over into Mara, Serengeti, Loliondo and the South Rift if not contained. He reported on a Loita elephant stakeholders’ meeting convened by ACC and SORALO and held in Narok on 8th February. The district security forces and NGOs agreed to collaborate on stemming the poaching in Loita. ACC will hire and deploy ten game scouts to the area immediately. KWS will fast-track their training. Michael also reported that five elephant carcasses had been located by local scouts in the upper Pakase area (Ngurumani) and seven in the Loita area. Dr. Joyce Poole of Elephant Voices confirmed there have been numerous reported poaching incidents and elephant carcasses found in the Mara, especially in Siana and the national reserve. The mortality figures show that poaching is having a heavy impact on the Mara elephant populations .In Serengeti, poachers are mostly targeting elephant bulls, followed by mature females. The poaching trend in West Kilimanjaro has decreased since 2009. Nine elephants were killed in 2009, 3 in 2011 and none 2012. The decline shows that collaborative efforts can stem poaching.
DEFINING THE CROSS-BORDER META-ELEPHANT POPULATION
Charles Foley reviewed the findings of the Arusha workshop on the distribution and
movements of elephants in the borderlands region. He projected maps of elephant
movements, population numbers and genetics for a discussion on the areas for
inclusion in the cross-border area of common interest. It was agreed that the area
should encompass the contiguous populations stretching from the coast through the
Tsavo to the west of Mara-Serengeti, north as far as Mount Suswa and south to
Tarangire. The area is roughly defined by the following map.
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Map Showing the Extent of the area covered under the Kenya-Tanzania cross-border Program
It was agreed that the area encompasses the meta-population of elephants in the Tanzania-Kenya borderlands. Several names were proposed for the project, including The Kenya-Tanzania Cross-Border Elephant Project, The Kenya-Tanzania Trans-Border Elephant Project and The Kenya-Tanzania Meta-Elephant Project. It was left for the project coordinators to make a final decision. ACC later suggested we adopt the title The Tanzania-Kenya Borderlands Elephant Initiative to follow the Arusha workshop title as closely as possible.
DEFINING A BASELINE MAP AND COMPILING DATA LAYERS It was agreed that the first step in compiling and integrating data among collaborating institutions is the selection of a common base map defining area boundaries and physical features. The base map will serve as the common platform on which all other data layers are compiled. Festus Ihwagi of STE confirmed he had received shape files of protected area boundaries along the borderland region, but that differences the systems used (some in WGS 84 and other pieces in Arc 1960) called for harmonization using a common reference system. GIS software availability should be considered for producing quality maps. ESRI software like ArcGIS and ArcMap were considered suitable for spatial data analysis, but expensive. Open source software can be used
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in this event. ACC has been using Quantum GIS (1.6,1.7 and 1.8) and R for data analysis and they have proven to be reliable.
REVIEW OF PROJECTS AND DATA SETS
Charles Foley circulated an information form to all participants prior to the meeting, requesting details of information collection and methods. The responses are given in Appendix A. A summary of the institutions collecting data is given in Table 1. Table 1. Institutions collecting elephant information in the borderlands region
Name of Project/Institution Geographic Area Country
1 Friedkin Conservation Fund Maswa, Lake Natron, Ugalla, Moyowosi/Uvinza TZ
2 African Wildlife Foundation Tarangire-Manyara Ecosystem TZ
3 Ololosokwan Community Project Ololosokwan, Loliondo District TZ
4 Honey Guide Foundation Enduimet Wildlife Management Area TZ
5 Tarangire Elephant Project Tarangire National Park, Simanjiro TZ
6 Elephant Voices Maasai Mara Kenya
7 Amboseli Elephant Project Amboseli Ecosystem Kenya
8 Amboseli Trust for Elephants Amboseli Ecosystem Kenya
9 Elephant Program, ACC Kajiado, Magadi, NArok east-15 group ranches Kenya
10 Amboseli Conservation Program Amboseli ecosystem, park and dry season range Kenya
Additional comments from those present included:
Save The Elephants-STE Save The Elephants has collared three elephants in Maasai Mara and is hosting 3 more for KWS. STE is also helping Mark Goss in his rapid response program in the Mara north conservancy. Elephant Voices Joyce Poole and Petter Granli described their cell phone ‘app’ for identifying and logging movements of Mara elephants. They explained that the initiative is a relatively low cost method of collecting elephant information and ensuring instant data logging. Elephant Voices was asked if it could simplify the cell phone system for scout observation of elephant sightings, tracks and signs and it agreed to do so. ACC elephant program Julius Muriuki explained how the use of wide-spread, community-implemented surveys assisted ACC gather large amounts of basic presence/absence data on elephants across the Kenyan South Rift. South Rift general monitoring by SORALO and ACC Samantha Russell explained that, although there was no longer a dedicated elephant monitoring program in the South Rift, she was looking forward to learning what information could be collected through the vast network of community scouts and resource assessors based at Lale’enok. Lion Guardians
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Lion Guardians is monitoring and guarding lions in Amboseli. The project involves tracking of collared lions and averting attacks to livestock and human attacks on lions. Lion conflict has declined in recent years. Rebuilding the Pride Guy Western explained how SORALO's Rebuilding the Pride program used a similar approach to do carnivore census in the South Rift of Kenya.
DEFINING THE MINIMUM SET OF DATA
A minimum set of data and collection protocols is needed to launch a common database for tracking elephant and carnivore activities in the borderlands. The priority in the first six months should be to determine:
The distribution patterns of elephants and carnivores.
Poaching hotspots.
Hotspots of human-wildlife conflict.
The following steps to complete the base mapping were agreed on:
Amboseli ecosystem --ACC and AWF to provide missing shape files.
Mara region --STE or ACC to provide a base map.
Tanzania Natron region -- Alfred Kikoti through WCS to provide shape files.
Tsavo --KWS to provide latest elephant data.
Kajiado District -- ACC to provide boundary maps.
Trans-border land use map -- ACC to provide map based on land use change study.
The data will be made available to ACC and STE to set up the base map and common database.
STANDARDIZED DATA COLLECTION Several methods of data collection were discussed. They included:
1. Event-book system. Charles Foley reviewed the Namibian event-book system adopted by Tanzania for collecting data on human-wildlife conflict in the field. The system is based on the principles of adaptive management and routinely reviews monitoring results. TAWIRI in Tanzania has a well developed HWC data collection form used to log conflict data. Dr. Noah Sitati of WWF has also used similar methods of studying human-elephant conflict in the Mara. Data collection and analysis can be adapted to community-based information gathering. The group agreed that there is a need to identify the human wildlife conflict hot spots as a matter of priority. Apart from the human suffering, losses to elephants give communities reason to tolerate poachers as a way to reduce conflict. It was recommended that the trans-border elephant program adopt the event-book system for monitoring elephant and
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carnivore conflicts at a community level. Charles Foley will circulate the event-book protocols to all participants.
2. SMART. Charles Foley gave a power-point presentation of the SMART
system of collecting and monitoring wildlife security data and increasing the effectiveness of law enforcement procedures. The relative merits of the MIST and SMART system were discussed. The trend among users is towards SMART. SMART is simpler and more accessible than MIST because of its open source format and adaptable design. A consortium of NGOs and foundations are to launch the Beta version of SMART at the end of February. Victor Moses gave details of the interoperability between SMART and other database systems and its ease of use with analytical software such as R and GIS. Festus Ihwagi and Victor Mose will provide technical support in using SMART. WCS was requested to hold a field workshop for potential users in the trans-border region with a view to adopting the patrol system for community scouts.
3. Monitoring elephant deaths (MIKE). Festus Ihwagi explained the monitoring
of elephants deaths used by STE in Laikipia, as set up by Onesmus Kahindi. Northern Rangelands Trust, Space for Giants, The Nature Conservancy, KWS and Mpala Research Centre share the same methodology based on the CITES protocol, MIKE (Monitoring of Illegally Killed Elephants). The data collection includes GPS coordinates and standard criteria to determine the age and cause of death. Festus Ihwagi will circulate the MIKE protocols to all participants.
4. PIKE (Proportion of Illegally Killed Elephants). Festus Ihwagi explained that
STE uses PIKE to complement the MIKE protocol. PIKE tracks the proportion of elephants killed by poachers, as opposed to natural deaths, animals killed on control and in conflict. The ratio of poached to other deaths gives a good measure of unsustainable poaching levels. The PIKE level in Samburu rose from 22% in 2002 to Lai was at 75% currently, far above sustainable levels.
5. Verifying and reconciling elephant mortality data. Several organizations
may collect carcass data in the same area, raising the possibility of double counts. It is important to reconcile the number and causes of elephants deaths. In Kenya KWS does so by holding regular workshops among organizations involved in data collection. Each carcass report should be accompanied by a photo facing due north and GPS coordinates. Similar protocols should be adopted across the borderlands, given the trans-border movements of elephants, poachers and consequences of human-elephant conflict. Festus Ihwagi will provide participants a list of protocols.
6. Expanding elephant surveys and monitoring using DNA analysis
David Western reported that Dr. Marissa Ahlering had conducted DNA analysis of elephant movements in the trans-border region, based on genetic distinctions among populations. This offered a powerful tool for detecting elephant immigration to new locations and for assessing numbers and herd composition. Marissa has trained community members during her study. She has expressed interest in continuing her work in the region.
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THE BASE MAP, DATABASES AND SECURITY PROTOCOLS The key points agreed on were as follows: Base map and database
1. Data should be stored in a location where all participants can have easy access. The group agreed to start with simple datasets that members are comfortable sharing and progressively to build up more detailed data layers and mapping and tracking procedures. Data security should have high priority, given the sensitivity of certain information. Passwords will be provided to those operating the database and members needing access.
2. The centralized database should be established at ACC in collaboration with
STE. Victor Mose of ACP and Lucy Waruingi of ACC will ensure the interoperability of the various data sources with the common database. Lucy Waruingi will circulate a data form describing the use of metadata and protocols for its access and use.
3. Top priority for the trans-borer elephant project is the compilation the base
map to be used by all participants. Once complete and agreed on, additional data layers such topography, climate land use, conservancies and WMAs can be added.
4. David Western noted that ACC had been developing an elephant suitability
map for the South Rift, Kenya. Based on field surveys of elephant movements in relation to habitat, water, human activity and other factors, a map of areas elephant prefer and those they avoid or are likely to run into conflict is being built up in collaboration with Kevin Johnston of ESRI. Such suitability mapping would be a useful way of plotting the distribution options for elephants beyond parks in the borderlands region
Field surveys
1. Top priority for field surveys should be given to establishing the presence and absence of elephants and carnivores across the borderlands. The surveys will establish the extent of occurrence of elephants and large carnivores and therefore the meta-populations.
2. The surveys should use the extent of occurrence data to conduct more
detailed surveys to determine the relative abundance of each species. 3. The relative abundance data will be used to determine priority areas, the
nature of conservation coverage and the information gaps. The gap areas will be the target of rapid surveys of elephant and carnivore activity.
4. The survey methods recommended are those used by ACC and SORALO in
the course of their surveys in the South Rift. ACC and Rebuilding the Pride will make the field survey forms available to organizations agreeing to undertake the surveys. Once the rapid surveys are complete, stratified
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sampling designs will be established to increase the resolution of surveys and provide relative abundance estimates.
5. High priority should be placed on elephant and carnivore surveys in the Lake
Natron region.
WEBSITE It was agreed that ACC and Elephant Voices should set up a common website for the Tanzania-Kenya Borderlands Project. The website should highlight the importance of the region for elephants, large carnivores, wildlife and biodiversity in general, the conservation challenges, the goals and activities of the project, and issue regular updates. The background rationale to the Arusha workshop provides an excellent template for the website. The website would draw attention to the importance of the collaborative effects of the project and increase the prospects for funding.
TIME LINES
Activity Time lines Responsible
1 Cross border area general base map
End of March 2013 Festus Ihwagi-STE
2 Land cover maps, report, data End of February 2013
Lucy Waruingi, ACC
3 Rapid surveys End of march 2013 Guy Western, ACC, SORALO
4 SMART Program End of march 2013 Charles Foley-WCS
5 MIKE protocol End of week Festus Ihwagi-STE
6 SMART PAMS Foundation 6 months Charles Foley
7 HWC protocol End of week Charles Foley
8 Web site and online system End of March ACC, Elephant Voices
CONCLUDING REMARKS The participants agreed that WCS under Charles Foley would coordinate the Tanzania-Kenya Borderlands Project in Tanzania and David Western and Lucy Waruingi of ACC in Kenya. Charles Foley will hold a meeting in Tanzania within the next month to coordinate activities among the NGOs. ACC will prepare and circulate a report on the meeting to all participants and other relevant parties. The next full meeting of the borderlands elephant database coalition will be held in Tanzania early in2014. Participants of the Arusha workshop should reconvene in 2014 to take stock of conservation progress and further action needed to ensure the success of the Tanzania-Kenya Borderlands Elephant Project.
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POSTSCRIPT Discussions were held between the Tanzania delegates, ACC and SORALO prior to the full meeting. The meeting looked at the community-based conservation programs underway along the Tanzanian side of the border, the gaps in coverage and which organizations could best mobilize community action immediately effect. It was agreed that, in the event that LCAOF provides start-up funds to fast-track conservation in the gap areas, Honeyguide, assisted by the Friedkin Conservation Foundation, will address the gap in the Natron region and PAMS in the Loliondo region. A day after the meeting, LCAOF made funds available for start-up community conservation initiatives through ACC and SORALO. The funding will ensure that community programs in the gap areas can be filled immediately.
APPENDICES Appendix A Name of Project/Organization:Friedkin Conservation Fund
Geographic region studying/involved in:Maswa; Lake Natron, Ugalla and Moyowosi/Uvinza.
*Please fill out one row for each type of data you are collecting
What types of data are you collecting?
(Animal behaviour, vegetation quality, wildlife
presence or density, incidences of poaching,
demography, rainfall, etc)
What methods are you
using to collect the data?
(individual recognition, scan
samples, ground counts,
distance sampling, aerial
counts, etc)
Who is responsible for
collecting the data?
(researchers, village game
scouts, anti-poaching units,
etc)
Frequency of data
collection? (continuous,
monthly, annually)
How long has your project
been collecting these data?
Incidences of poaching Observations by ground teams
on patrol, random and fixed
transect sightings from a
microlight and helicopter.
Anti Poaching teams,
Concession Managers and
Pilots. PHs also record and
report poaching incidents in
their feedback form.
Continuous 2004/2005 but not extensive
2006 onwards extensively
across all areas.
Elephant poaching related
arrests and/or confiscations
Recorded from patrol reports
and confirmed through official
police records
Anti Poaching teams and
Concession Managers.
Continuous 2006 onwards extensively
across all areas.
Illegal cattle Concentrations. Aerial transect by
microlight/helicopter
Pilots/Wildlife Managers Continuous 2008 onwrads
Ugalla Hippo census Aerial transect by Microlight(
Total count)
Pilots/Wildlife Managers Once a year 2009 onwards
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Name of Project/Organization: African Wildlife Foundation
Geographic region studying/involved in: TarangireManyara Kilimanjaro Ecosystem
*Please fill out one row for each type of data you are collecting
What types of data are you collecting?
(Animal behaviour, vegetation quality, wildlife presence or density, incidences of poaching, demography,
rainfall, etc)
What methods are you using
to collect the data?
(individual recognition, scan
samples, ground counts,
distance sampling, aerial
counts, etc)
Who is responsible
for collecting the
data? (researchers,
village game scouts,
anti-poaching units,
etc)
Frequency of data
collection? (continuous,
monthly, annually)
How long has your project
been collecting these data?
Example: wildlife presence and density Ground counts by bicycle on fixed
transects: calculating an index of
abundance - number of each
species seen per total transect
length.
Village Game Scouts Weekly, collated monthly Since 2010
Animal numbers; vegetation quality;
Poaching – in Burunge WMA
Transect Ground counts on foot Researchers/Village
game scouts
Periodically 2011
Animal numbers; vegetation quality;
Poaching – in Manyara ranch
Transect Ground counts on foot Researchers/Village
game scouts
Periodically 2009
Animal numbers; vegetation quality;
wildlife observations, Human wildlife
conflicts;
Systematic surveys – cross boarder Arial
surveys ( invoving many parteners)
Poaching – in Enduimet WMA
Transect Ground counts on foot;
Event monitoring
Researchers/Village
game scouts
Periodically 2011
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Name of Project/Organization:Ololosokwan Community Project
Geographic region studying/involved in:Ololosokwan Village land, Loliondo District
*Please fill out one row for each type of data you are collecting
What types of data are you collecting?
(Animal behaviour, vegetation quality, wildlife
presence or density, incidences of poaching,
demography, rainfall, etc)
What methods are you
using to collect the data?
(individual recognition, scan
samples, ground counts,
distance sampling, aerial
counts, etc)
Who is responsible for
collecting the data?
(researchers, village game
scouts, anti-poaching units,
etc)
Frequency of data
collection? (continuous,
monthly, annually)
How long has your project
been collecting these data?
Incidences of poaching Ground counts while on foot
patrol
Community Scouts Continuous, collated monthly Since November 2012
Name of Project/Organization: Honey Guide Foundation
Geographic region studying/involved in:Enduimet Wildlife Management Area
*Please fill out one row for each type of data you are collecting
What types of data are you collecting?
(Animal behaviour, vegetation quality, wildlife
presence or density, incidences of poaching,
demography, rainfall, etc)
What methods are you
using to collect the data?
(individual recognition, scan
samples, ground counts,
distance sampling, aerial
counts, etc)
Who is responsible for
collecting the data?
(researchers, village game
scouts, anti-poaching units,
etc)
Frequency of data
collection? (continuous,
monthly, annually)
How long has your project
been collecting these data?
Incidences of poaching Vehicle and foot patrols by
ground teams, random sightings
from a microlight, and informer
networks
WMA game scouts Continuous Since 2010
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Name of Project/Organization:Tarangire Elephant Project
Geographic region studying/involved in:Tarangire National Park, Simanjiro
*Please fill out one row for each type of data you are collecting
What types of data are you collecting?
(Animal behaviour, vegetation quality, wildlife
presence or density, incidences of poaching,
demography, rainfall, etc)
What methods are you
using to collect the data?
(individual recognition, scan
samples, ground counts,
distance sampling, aerial
counts, etc)
Who is responsible for
collecting the data?
(researchers, village game
scouts, anti-poaching units,
etc)
Frequency of data
collection? (continuous,
monthly, annually)
How long has your project
been collecting these data?
Elephant demography, group
characteristics, GPS location
Individual recognition Research assistants Continuous Since 1993
Elephant behaviour Varies according to study
type. Usually scan or focal
samples
Research assistants Varies by project On and off since 1993
Elephant genetics Dung samples from known
individuals
Research assistants Varies by project On and off since 2001
Large mammal densities in
Park
Driven transects. Data
analysed as index of
abundance (animals seen/km
driven)
Research assistants Monthly Since 1994
Large mammal densities in
wider ecosystem
5 fixed transects per village.
Animals counted from
bicycle.
Village game scouts Monthly Since 2007
Incidences of poaching Chance encounters and
information from other
Village game scouts Continuously updated
monthly
Since 2007
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villagers
Human Wildlife Conflict Species involved and losses
recorded
Village game scouts Continuously updated
monthly
Since 2007
Numbers of juvenile animals Counts along transects via
bicycle
Village game scouts Once annually during
breeding season
Since 2007
Rainfall Rain guages Village game scouts Continously Since 2007
Name of Project/Organization: Elephant Voices
Geographic region studying/involved in:Masai Mara?
*Please fill out one row for each type of data you are collecting
What types of data are you collecting? (Animal behaviour, vegetation quality, wildlife presence or density, incidences of poaching, demography, rainfall, etc)
What methods are you
using to collect the data?
(individual recognition,
scan samples, ground
counts, distance
sampling, aerial counts,
etc)
Who is responsible for
collecting the data?
(researchers, village
game scouts, anti-
poaching units, etc)
Frequency of data
collection? (continuous,
monthly, annually)
How long has your
project been collecting
these data?
Elephant monitoring: date, time, location, geo-
referencing, group size, group type, ID when
known.
Contained and searchable within:
http://www.elephantvoices.org/maraelephants-
whos-who.html
http://www.elephantvoices.org/maraelephants-
Opportunistic group
sightings primarily via
vehicle; collected via cell-
phone app and uploaded to
database
ElephantVoices (Petter and
myself), volunteers, rangers,
scouts, guides, tourists,
conservancy representatives.
Continuous Since 2010 but more
consistently since October
2011
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whereabouts.html
http://www.elephantvoices.org/maraelephants-
mapping.html
Note: some data is password protected due to
concerned about poaching. Registered users
may see.
Sick wounded elephants: within context of the
above data – age, sex, identify if known, sick
or wounded, wound type, wound status
Contained and searchable within:
http://www.elephantvoices.org/maraelephants-
whereabouts.html
http://www.elephantvoices.org/maraelephants-
mapping.html
Opportunistic group
sightings primarily via
vehicle; collected via cell-
phone app and uploaded to
database
ElephantVoices (Petter and
myself), volunteers, rangers,
scouts, guides, tourists,
conservancy representatives.
Continuous Since 2010 but more
consistently since October
2011
Elephant mortality according to MIKE criteria
Contained and searchable within:
http://www.elephantvoices.org/maraelephants-
whereabouts.html
http://www.elephantvoices.org/maraelephants-
mapping.html
Opportunistic sightings via
foot patrol and vehicle.
Following MIKE criteria
collected via cell-phone app
and uploaded to database
ElephantVoices (Petter and
myself), volunteers, rangers,
scouts, guides, tourists,
conservancy representatives.
Continuous Since 2010 but more
consistently since October
2011
16
Name of Project/Organization:Amboseli Elephant Project
Geographic region studying/involved in:Amboseli ecosystem
*Please fill out one row for each type of data you are collecting
What types of data are you collecting?
(Animal behaviour, vegetation quality, wildlife
presence or density, incidences of poaching,
demography, rainfall, etc)
What methods are you
using to collect the data?
(individual recognition, scan
samples, ground counts,
distance sampling, aerial
counts, etc)
Who is responsible for
collecting the data?
(researchers, village game
scouts, anti-poaching units,
etc)
Frequency of data
collection? (continuous,
monthly, annually)
How long has your project
been collecting these data?
Animal behaviour Individual recognition Researchers Daily 40 years
Wildlife presence or density Sightings Resesarchers& Game Scouts Daily 40 years
Demography Censuses Researchers Daily 40 years
Monitoring GSM collars on 5 females Researchers hourly 19 months
Vegetation Transects Researchers Twice yearly 19 years
Water table & rainfall Direct measurement Researchers Daily & Monthly 40 years
Poaching Direct observation Researchers & Game Scouts When reported 40 years
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Name of Project/Organization:Amboseli Trust for Elephants
Geographic region studying/involved in:Amboseli ecosystem
What types of data are you collecting?
(Animal behaviour, vegetation quality, wildlife
presence or density, incidences of poaching,
demography, rainfall, etc)
What methods are you
using to collect the data?
(individual recognition, scan
samples, ground counts,
distance sampling, aerial
counts, etc)
Who is responsible for
collecting the data?
(researchers, village game
scouts, anti-poaching units,
etc)
Frequency of data
collection? (continuous,
monthly, annually)
How long has your project
been collecting these data?
Ecological: vegetation
abundance in plots, rainfall,
watertable level
Plot surveys Field Assistants Daily rain, quarterly vegetation
monitoring
Since 1982
Elephant: individually-based
behavioural monitoring
(oestrus, musth, health / illness,
jaws for age determination)
Individual recognition Field Assistants and Affiliated
researchers
Contact with elephants on daily
basis
Since 1972
Elephant: family association
data and demographic
monitoring
Individual recognition: Monthly
records of individual
associations in groups; presence
/ absence for births and deaths
in families
Field Assistants and Affiliated
researchers
Contact with elephants on daily
basis
Since 1972
Elephant: Sighting data
(individually / family based)
Individual or family
recognition: Location, habitat
and group data plus sightings of
individual males
Field Assistants and Affiliated
researchers
Contact with elephants on daily
basis
Since 1972
Elephants: Scans / focal
samples for specific cohorts and
behaviours of interest
Individual recognition Field Assistants and Affiliated
researchers
Contact with elephants on daily
basis
Since 1979
Elephant / human: Sightings
and sign around ecosystem;
GPS records of events; mobile
phone contact for reporting
Maasai elephant scouts Continuous Since 1990
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monitoring problems with
livestock and human habitations
etc
problems
Elephant: tracking via remote
sensing
GPS records at one hour
intervals for 4 females with
satellite collars (current)
Data assistant Continuous Off and on with all kinds of
techniques since 1972
19
Name of Project/Organization: Elephant Program, ACC
Geographic region studying/involved in:Kajiado Central, Magadi and Narok East (15 group ranches)
*Please fill out one row for each type of data you are collecting
What types of data are you collecting?
(Animal behaviour, vegetation quality, wildlife
presence or density, incidences of poaching,
demography, rainfall, etc)
What methods are you using
to collect the data? (individual
recognition, scan samples,
ground counts, distance
sampling, aerial counts, etc)
Who is responsible for
collecting the data?
(researchers, village game
scouts, anti-poaching units, etc)
Frequency of data
collection? (continuous,
monthly, annually)
How long has your
project been
collecting these data?
Elephant presence/absence Questionnaires, Interviews in
Amboseli, Magadi and Kajiado ACC, community scouts/informants
One-off survey 2004
Elephant population estimates Line transects in Magadi ACC, community game scouts One-off survey 2006
Elephant sightings Ground observation Community scouts, ACC Weekly, collated monthly 2004-2008
Human elephant conflict Questionnaires , interviews done in
Amboseli, Magadi and Narok east
ACC and community game scouts Weekly, collated monthly 2004-2008
Elephant movement patterns Satellite collars on elephants in
Magadi
ACC Continuous for stated period 2004-2008
Elephant DNA studies Elephant faecal samples collection
in Magadi, Amboseli and Maasai
Mara
Researcher (University of Missouri
), ACC
One-off survey 2008
20
Name of Project/Organization: Amboseli Conservation Program
Geographic region studying/involved in:Amboseli Ecosystem 8,500km2 and Amboseli National Park and dry season range 700km2.
*Please fill out one row for each type of data you are collecting
What types of data are you collecting?
(Animal behaviour, vegetation quality, wildlife
presence or density, incidences of poaching,
demography, rainfall, etc)
What methods are you
using to collect the data?
(individual recognition, scan
samples, ground counts,
distance sampling, aerial
counts, etc)
Who is responsible for
collecting the data?
(researchers, village game
scouts, anti-poaching units,
etc)
Frequency of data
collection? (continuous,
monthly, annually)
How long has your project
been collecting these data?
All large mammals, livestock,
settlement, shambas, water,
vegetation condition. Elephant
carcasses.
SRF of 8,500km2 ecosystem.
8% sample counts
ACP under DW. One to several times yearly Since 1973
Numbers and location of major
wildlife and livestock species
and settlement in relation to
habitat and other variables
Sample ground counts and total
aerial counts of 700km2 dry
season area and Amboseli
National Park
ACP Monthly Sample ground counts starting
in 1967 and total aerial counts
in 1975
Total plant biomass, green
mass, dry mass and all large
mammals in vicinity
20 permanent plots across park
and 700km2 dry season area.
Vegetation sampling and animal
ground counts
ACP Monthly Since 1975
GIS-based habitat mapping and
change
Aerial and ground surveys ACP 5-yearly Since 1967
Species composition of
vegetation
Ground sampling ACP Yearly Since 1977
Appendix B