We have a lot to learn from animals and never is that more true than in the field of conservation. Much of our most valuable data comes from simply monitoring the behaviour of wildlife, and that’s exactly why we are supporting our partners Elephants for Africa (EFA) in a collaring project. The collaring forms part of our ongoing support for large mammal migration initiatives. The collaring was undertaken by EFA to gather insight into the movements of elephants in both protected (i.e. national parks) and human landscapes. The collars used were also fitted with accelerometers which allow EFA to identify certain behaviours, such as key feeding areas.
Seven adult bull elephants were collared back in August 2022 in Makgadikgadi Pan and Nxai Pans National Park with a view to removing the collars 24 months later, however successive droughts meant that the elephants were in poor condition, and it was decided that the risk to their health was too great and thus the uncollaring was delayed until after the rainy season here in Botswana. Enormous care is taken to ensure the welfare of the animals during operations such as this. It would be tragically ironic should wildlife be harmed during a conservation effort.
Thankfully this year and last saw good rains in Botswana and the animals were able to put on weight, making them more resilient to the darting operations. This meant that the team were able to undertake the uncollaring operation last month.
“There was a lack of infrastructure where the elephants were spending time,” explains Dr Kate Evans Founder and Director of Research at Elephants for Africa. “We employed a helicopter from which to dart the elephants and a small plane to spot them and ensure the safety of the team on the ground – making sure no other elephants approached them while an elephant was down on the ground having his collar removed.”
The uncollaring team were able to uncollar six of the seven bulls, five of which were within the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park and a sixth one on community land. The seventh elephant was located in the north of the park but could not be uncollared as it was situated in a thick mopane woodland. All darting procedures to remove the collars used a drug known as M99, a potent analgesic, under the expertise of a very experienced veterinarian. Once the collars were removed, the elephants were then administered the appropriate reversal drug and carefully monitored to ensure they regained consciousness and resumed normal behaviour before EFA and the veterinarian left.
Having successfully uncollared five elephants on the first day, the team were feeling positive. The following day, they headed off early to the final elephant’s last known location. The elephant was located amidst dense mopane woodland, making a landing and darting operation unsafe.
“Despite waiting in the hope that the individual would move into a more open area, the terrain remained inaccessible, and it was determined that proceeding posed unacceptable risk to both human and animal safety,” Dr Evans recalls. “The difficult decision was therefore made to postpone the uncollaring of this individual.”
The mission is far from over though, and the remaining elephant, catchily known as IR SAT 6216, is being closely monitored so that any opportunity to safely remove his collar in more accessible terrain won’t be missed. Unfortunately, though, he seems to have immersed himself in an abundance of food, water and breeding herds – key components for a content adult male elephant! Thus, it’s expected that he may not make himself available for uncollaring any time soon. The EFA team are committed to his welfare though, so will wait until he’s ready. The only danger being that his collar battery will run out and they won’t be able to utilise some of the collar’s valuable data.
The uncollaring of the elephants allows EFA to access the accelerometer data. The last few years have seen the Boteti River dry out and the re-erection of the western park boundary fence, so this pre and post data will allow EFA to assess the impact of these drastic changes in the elephants’ habitat choices. An extensive database can now be drawn up to help assess areas of ecological importance to these elephants, identify the places where they are likely to come into conflict with people and see the areas they use to migrate to and from the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park.
The six collars that were successfully removed are on their way to be refurbished by the manufacturers in South Africa (it’s a hard life being a collar aboard an elephant!) and their accelerometers will also be removed. Back in EFA HQ there are two PhD students and a bachelor’s student hard at work on the collar data they currently have, and eagerly awaiting the accelerometer data.
Here’s hoping that IR SAT 6216 will relinquish his before too long – perhaps we can use the waiting time to assign him a better name.
