The Mara Elephant Project has been supporting the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute’s (TAWIRI) elephant monitoring efforts in Tanzania with the deployment of satellite tracking collars since 2018. This cross-border collaboration protects elephants that oftentimes call both Kenya and Tanzania home. In April, Elephant Conservation Organization (ECO), a MEP incubation project, supported TAWIRI and Tanzania National Parks alongside Six Rivers Africa and deployed new Savannah Tracking collars on four elephants in the Kagera area. Their movements help to inform the deployment of resources to mitigate human-elephant conflict.
In April, MEP assisted with three total elephant treatments. A well-known elephant Individual 58 was monitoredby MEP rangers with four arrow wounds that required immediate vet intervention. The team, along with Mara North Conservancy (MNC) rangers, assisted Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Vet Dr. Njoroge from the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT) during the treatment, and his prognosis is good. This isn’t the first time Individual 58 has been injured. He’s been treated for similar human-elephant conflict-related injuries before, most recently in January 2025. What’s fascinating is that he always seems to turn up in MNC when he’s injured. It’s almost like he knows that is where help is. Since his treatment, MEP rangers have been coordinating with our partners to monitor his movements closely to deploy preventative measures to prevent it from happening again.
The MEP helicopter was deployed in April to move a herd of eight elephants, including three calves, that were moving dangerously close to homes and livestock within a community settlement. At one point, the helicopter stopped them just meters from homes and expertly guided them back to a safe wildlife area. This tool remains priceless to MEP’s efforts to protect both wildlife and communities.
In early April, MEP was asked to assist the KWS team in the air with a translocation exercise for four elephants in the Rumuruti–Naibor area. These elephants were frequently in conflict with the community and to increase their protection and decrease rising tensions, they were moved to Meru National Park. Our partnership remains rooted in our shared vision to see wildlife in Kenya thrive.
Overall, MEP rangers, alongside government partners, arrested two bushmeat poaching suspects and three habitat destruction suspects. They confiscated 55 kg of bushmeat and removed 59 snares. MEP rangers also assisted with three elephant treatments. MEP rangers seized one power, eight pieces of timber, 38 posts, and destroyed six charcoal kilns and mitigated 32 human-elephant conflict incidents.
The ‘Foxtrot’ ranger team deployed their drone to address four incidents in the fenced-in areas of Olemoncho, Oloosokon, and Oloingaborri. MEP drone pilots participated in a routine Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) refresher training in April at our headquarters to remain up to date with professional industry standards.
The MEP/SWT Mau De-Snaring Unit has been conducting joint patrols with KWS and Kenya Forest Service (KFS) to focus on combatting bushmeat poaching inside the Mau Forest. In a recent incident in April, bushmeat poachers were arrested with 15 kg (33 lbs.) of bushmeat believed to be a bushbuck stuffed in sacks. Arrests and seizures like this deter others from pursuing bushmeat to increase protection for the wildlife that call this forest home.
After a two-day search, the long-term monitoring (LTM) team located Fred in good health grazing near Tangulia Camp.
Finally, the Fran Duthie Scholarship for African Elephant Conservation continues to empower aspiring Kenyan conservationists. So far in 2025, Leshan advanced his studies through self-directed learning, diving into online resources and peer discussions, Mark took part in a global dialogue on climate resilience, biodiversity, and sustainable agriculture at Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) event at the United Nations in Nairobi, Mary joined the International Women’s Day Celebration at International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), forging connections with influential women in conservation, and Sumaiyah participated in a wildlife census with the Athi Kapiti Wildlife Conservancies Association and contributed to the draft report of their findings. These milestones reflect the scholars’ dedication and the scholarship’s impact in shaping future leaders in conservation.
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