Mara Elephant Project

Project Animal(s) : Elephants
Project Category : Mammals
Project Region : Africa
Project Type : Conservation
Project URL : https://www.tusk.org/projects/mara-elephant-project/
Project is timebound? : No

The Mara Elephant Project (MEP) exists to protect the elephants living in and around the Maasai Mara National Reserve, which borders the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania.

This area is home to a large and wide ranging elephant population, but it is constantly at risk from ivory poaching and conflict with surrounding communities. The MEP uses a combination of modern technology and a strong presence on the ground to address these threats.

Radio collars are fitted on over 20 elephants, allowing the MEP to see when they (and their family group) are entering areas at high risk of poaching or conflict. These also help to identify key areas and routes for elephants across the landscape. Six anti-poaching units act on the monitoring data and information from a network of local investigators to protect the elephants and target poaching gangs. The same data also allows crop raiding and other conflict incidents to be anticipated and elephants to be diverted, for instance with the use of the MEP helicopter or one of their ranger-operated drones. Ongoing engagement with local communities includes assistance with constructing chilli fences – a very effective elephant deterrent – and conservation-linked community development projects in collaboration with the Maa Trust.

Tusk funding has assisted the MEP with their integrated programme of activities, allowing them to carry out their important work.

The celebrated Mara elephant population survives in the face of constant pressure. It is vital that the MEP continues to defend it.

Project Agency : TUSK

Project Agency Contact : https://www.tusk.org/

Additional Information :

AREA PROTECTED: 2,400,000 HA
LOCAL POPULATION EMPLOYED: 38