Increased Elephant Security and Monitoring in the Tsavo National Park, Kenya

Tsavo East National Park (TENP) spans 14,000 km2 and is home to a vital gene pool of elephants with “Tusker” genetics—elephants carrying exceptionally large ivory over 100 pounds per tusk. While the elephant numbers are growing, they fall short of the 40,000 elephants that lived in the region in the late 1960s. This project is building upon the aerial patrols in the Big Tusker Project to further enhance the recovery of elephants in this region. Three Biodiversity Protection Patrol teams will give ground anti-poaching support for the Kenya Wildlife Service to combat illegal wildlife trade, bushmeat poaching, and unregulated livestock grazing. These patrols will also provide a platform to conduct research and will include a new team monitoring the TENP Tiva River area that is currently unpatrolled on the ground and home to at least 40% of Tsavo’s Tuskers. Anti-poaching teams will also respond to cases of human-elephant conflict and work with the Kamungi Conservancy along the northern boundary of the park.

IEF #AF1050

Project Years: 2025

Project Partners:
Richard Moller, Tsavo Trust, Kenya