Satellite-Linked GPS Collars Deployed on Elephants in Tsavo Ecosystem, Kenya

摘要

We aimed to deploy satellite-linked GPS collars to ten elephants at different locations at Tsavo East and West National Parks. However, nine elephants (3 males and 1 female in Tsavo East and 3 males and 2 females in Tsavo West) were deployed with the collars as one collar malfunctioned. The movement patterns of the collared elephants will be monitored for the next 20 months. This operation was carried out by International Fund for Animal Welfare staff and Kenya Wildlife Service scientists, wardens', veterinary doctor, and capture rangers. The preliminary preparations involved having planning meetings to identify the personnel, collaring operation sites, equipments, and materials to be used during the operation. A final planning meeting was held at Voi Wildlife Lodge on 28 February 2012. The meeting was to ensure that all personnel, materials, and equipment were available. During this meeting, teams to be involved in the operation were constituted, a brief on the collaring operation process was provided, safety/security issues were discussed, and operations starting time was agreed upon. During the operation, daily debriefing meetings were held to review the day's activities and address issues that might have arisen. Each morning, the operation started at around 5.30a.m with the ground team departing to designated site. The light aircraft and helicopter followed at 6:00a.m and 6:15a.m respectively. The operation involved three teams (i.e., the search, darting, and ground teams). The ground team was the first to depart to the potential areas. They stayed within that general potential area awaiting directions from the search team. The search team was then next to fly early in the morning with a light aircraft to the potential site. The team searched for potential groups group at agreed localities (Sangayaya, Ithumba, Ndia Ndaasa, and Emusaya in TENP; and Maktau, Kasigau, Jipe Njukini and Kamboyo in TWNP). Upon spotting a potential group of elephants at agreed site, the search team called in the darting team. The search team then led the darting team to the group. The darting team aged and sexed an identified elephant for darting from the group. Then upon agreeing on the individual, the veterinary doctor darted the animal. Darting was done from a helicopter using a Dan inject gun. The immobilizer and revival drugs used were etorphine hydrochloride and diprenorphine at the dosage of 16-18mg and 60mg respectively. The ground team was called in and directed to the immobilized elephant by the search team. By the end of the operation, satellite-linked GPS collars were deployed to 6 male elephants (3 each in both Tsavos) and three female elephant (one at TENP and two at TWNP). The age of the collared elephants ranged from 17-40 years. The collared elephants will be monitoring for the next 20 months. The information generated will be used to understand the movement ecology and space use of elephants in Tsavo East and West National Parks as well as map their migratory corridors and dispersal area.