Document Actions
Background to the Forest Elephant Telemetry Maps
The goal of the Forest Elephant GPS Telemetry Program is to promote
an understanding of the ranging and seasonal migration patterns of
forest elephants (Loxodonta africana cyclotis) in critical
conservation areas of central Africa. This information is required if
effective conservation plans are to be developed, for this poorly
known, yet wide ranging species. This website displays GPS telemetry
data collected from forest elephants fitted with GPS collars in some of
the most important conservation areas in Africa. The purpose of the
site is two-fold:
- develop a region-wide database of forest elephant telemetry data and associated geographic data to facilitate analysis at the local and regional level,
- disseminate this information to promote interest and understanding of forest elephant ecology and conservation.
The program began in 1998 when Save the Elephants, a
Kenyan-based charity, supported Wildlife
Conservation Society (WCS) field staff to deploy 2 collars in
Dzanga-Ndoki National Park in the Central African Republic. Since then
the program has expanded into the Republics of Congo and Gabon, with
the deployment of 22 GPS collars in 5 national parks. To find out more
about the work of WCS in the Congo, click here or contact Steve Blake.
Elephant Telemetry data is currently available in the following landscapes:
