How we are monitoring our release herd’s wellbeing – 24/7!
The release herd has adapted wonderfully to life in the wild – but just because they aren’t at Reteti anymore doesn’t mean we’re
not keeping a close eye on their wellbeing. In fact, they’re never out of our sight!
While keeping a respectful distance and celebrating their freedom to get on with life in the wilderness, we’ve developed a multipronged strategy to monitor their welfare and health, and make sure that they’re always safe and sound.
Years of meticulous preparation in consultation with our partners – Save the Elephants (STE), San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (SDZWA), and Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) – as well as their extensive research on rewilding elephant orphans, enabled us to streamline everything from community-based observation to tech-supported strategies, without ever infringing on their comfort or ease of movement out in the bush.
Apart from checking the herd’s progress and ensuring that they’re thriving in the wild, keeping tabs on their behaviour provides valuable data and insights as we continue to rescue, rehabilitate, and release elephant orphans in need! Through our approach, we are tracking a variety of elements, including their:
Health and wellbeing From noting down their body condition and weight to being alerted of any injuries if they arise, our tracking allows us to respond to issues in real-time.
Feeding patterns Since weight is a key indicator of the elephants’ wellbeing, we closely monitor their feeding behaviours, and where they prefer to browse. It’s a time of great exploration, and we hope they’ll use the skills they’ve acquired during their rehabilitation to make the best use of the release site’s natural resources.
Social integration Elephants are highly social beings who share deep and intimate bonds. Their mutual respect and recognition create a spirit of safety, stability, and harmony that is crucial for survival. The release herd’s integration with free-roaming elephants is fundamental for their successful rewilding, and we’re observing this closely to see how the process is getting along!
Interactions with humans & livestock From time to time, the herd will encounter members of the indigenous Samburu Community as well as their livestock – just like they did on their wilderness walks at Reteti. It’s invaluable to monitor these encounters within our community conservancy as we keep building on the research of this harmonious human-wildlife relationship that has existed for generations!
A multipronged approach
Combining everything from active participation from the community and citizen scientists to the use of tech that is ideally suited to monitor the movement of wildlife in their natural habitat, we are keeping a close eye on the release herd in a variety of harmless and unobtrusive ways:
FULL-TIME KEEPERS
Living out in the bush close to the release herd in specially constructed field accommodation, this dedicated team works in shifts to ensure
24/7 monitoring. They’re always in contact with Reteti, as well as stand-by services ranging from aerial services to vets – and their work includes data collection on the development and wellbeing of each of the 13 elephants.
FIELD RESEARCHERS FROM RETETI
Trained by STE and SDZWA, the researchers monitor the orphans daily in support of ongoing research.
12 SAMBURU MORANS (WARRIORS)
Recruited from each manyatta (homestead) In the Sarara Valley, they are our eyes and ears on the ground! These Elephant Guardians provide us
with situational reports if they encounter the release herd while they’re out tending to their livestock during the day, and they also observe interactions between the elephants and the Samburu community. Read more about their valuable input in this inspiring blog!
GPS TRACKING COLLARS
Thanks to the incredible work of STE, these collars have been tried, tested, and carefully developed over many years to offer the best possible design. A tremendous amount of research went into ensuring that the elephants will get used to them quickly, and while the collars might look strange to the human eye, they’re not heavy and equivalent to the weight of a
small pendant necklace around your neck. Fitting comfortably like loose belts, they can be adjusted as the elephants grow. You can read all about the collars and how they were fitted here.
CAMERA TRAPS
We don’t want to get too close – but we can still get a closer look at how they are doing and what they’re up to! Researchers worldwide rely on camera traps to study wild animals in their natural habitats. With the ability to accurately collect and categorise large volumes of data, camera traps help us understand everything from changing behaviours to potential threats.
GEO-FENCING
Using tech to benefit both the community and the release herd, various GPS points were plotted around manyattas, major trade centres, towns, and more. Set up in advance of the release by Samburu men who crisscrossed the area on their motorbikes, the points offer a 2km buffer area, and trigger responses to let everyone know when elephants are in the area.
CITIZEN SCIENTISTS
The grassroots conservation movement at the heart of both Reteti Sanctuary and Namunyak Conservancy is driven by the local Samburu Community – and we’ve always been privileged to receive regular updates and insights from the ground! The calls we receive from men, women, and herders who see elephants during their daily lives continue to be one of our most valuable and reliable
sources of information!
During the past few months, no stone was left unturned to get everything ready for the release – and slowly but surely it all fell perfectly in place. Now, the real work begins – to make sure that the release herd continues to flourish and thrive in the wild! Of course, for us, it doesn’t feel like work at all – it’s a calling, a passion, and what gives meaning to our lives.
Remember to visit our one-stop hub at reteti.org/release for all the highlights, behind-the-scenes peeks, and information about this historical release!
You can still adopt one of the foster elephants who form part of this release herd – and as a Foster Parent, you’ll support ongoing monitoring to ensure their safety and wellbeing ahead. You’ll also receive regular updates and inside info on their progress in the wild!
