In the fourth quarter, the Mara Elephant Project research department expanded their long-term monitoring efforts outside of the Mara as well as participants in a core activity of the coexistence activities, the out-grower program.
Members of the long-term monitoring (LTM) team and data and reporting team visited Kalepo Community Conservancy to introduce the ElephantBook, EarthRanger and Ecoscope software systems to their teams. The main aim was to help Kalepo community rangers and researchers to learn how to record elephant sightings, identify individuals and track movements using digital tools for data and reporting management. This visit helped build the team’s skills and encouraged the use of technology in conservation. MEP also strengthened collaboration between the conservancy and other partners working to protect elephants and improve wildlife monitoring in this landscape.
There were seven total elephant treatments in the fourth quarter, MEP’s research team deployed to support one in Naboisho Conservancy. The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) / Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT) Mobile Vet Unit responded to a young female elephant suffering from a snare injury. The snare was wrapped around her mouth and ear, and the team led by Dr. Njoroge successfully removed it and treated her wound.
There was a special surprise from a monitoring operation in the fourth quarter. Ivy, one of the first tracked elephants in the Mara, has a new calf! Ivy was seen traveling with her family herd of 11 and alongside her, a young calf, estimated to be less than two months old. Ivy remains one of the longest continuously tracked elephants in the Mara and her movement data has unlocked a greater understanding of how elephants are adapting to a changing landscape. Her movements inform KWS, the Wildlife Research and Training Institute and MEP’s conservation planning and human-elephant conflict mitigation strategies across the Mara. Seeing Ivy with a new calf is a powerful reminder of why long-term monitoring matters, protecting not just individual elephants, but generations to come.
On the coexistence farm, after a year of dedicated care and close monitoring, the team successfully harvested the first batch of tea tree. The crop, nurtured from planting through its full growth cycle, yielded an impressive 3,815 kg of fresh tea tree material. The harvest was delivered to Kutoka Ardhini, a local processing unit in the Mara that ensures farmers benefit from a sustainable and transparent value chain. A total of 38 kg of chili was harvested as well and, even more exciting, they received the chili grinding machine, which will help them grind chili onsite to use for HEC mitigation activities. For the first time all year, a group of elephants visited the kitchen garden on the farm and consumed nearly all the onions along with spinach, tulips, beetroot, and Managu that had already matured. Interestingly, the elephants showed little interest in the Sukuma wiki (kale), leaving most of it untouched.
An update on the out grower activities, four new groups of female farmers were onboarded into the program. Representatives from two Osiligi groups, a Oltarakwai group and Naretoi group converged at the MEP farm for an introductory course. For the current participants, the MEP coexistence team held a meeting focused on financial management and provided an opportunity for participants to refresh their knowledge from previous entrepreneurship training. Notably, several women have since initiated small personal businesses, demonstrating improved well-being and reinforcing the value of livelihood diversification as a key component of human-wildlife coexistence. An introductory meeting was held in preparations for the next cohort of out grower participants with two groups of interested farmers attending. In the coming months, more outreach activities will be conducted to raise awareness and encourage wider participation.
The conservation education team successfully completed end-of-year assessments in ten schools. As part of the exercise, the team screened The Elephant Queen film for all students to enhance their understanding of the relationship between elephants, communities and the importance of habitat protection and long-term conservation efforts. They also celebrated Mazingira Day at Olorkoti High School by planting 350 trees together with students and teachers. During the event, the team showcased the use of drones in conservation, inspiring students to think innovatively and see how technology can play a key role in protecting wildlife and the environment. They also participated in a three-day mentorship program with 295 students and 65 parents from Ormeoshi Primary School, which covered a wide range of topics, including academic performance, conservation, and health and concluded with the planting of 100 trees in celebration of Kenya’s National Tree Planting Day.
