Elephants Alive

Elephants Alive's mission is to protect elephants and their habitats and promote harmony with people. For nearly 25 years we have been studying African elephants, in the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Area, monitoring elephant population dynamics and movements across South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique. This long-term research is providing fundamental inputs into conservation management, helping to secure the future of these trans-frontier, free-roaming elephants. We have developed an identification database of over 2000 elephants, and have collared over 200 elephants since 1998. In keeping with our mission and the need for intact habitat, we also monitor more than 3000 large trees known... read more Elephants Alive's mission is to protect elephants and their habitats and promote harmony with people. For nearly 25 years we have been studying African elephants, in the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Area, monitoring elephant population dynamics and movements across South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique. This long-term research is providing fundamental inputs into conservation management, helping to secure the future of these trans-frontier, free-roaming elephants. We have developed an identification database of over 2000 elephants, and have collared over 200 elephants since 1998. In keeping with our mission and the need for intact habitat, we also monitor more than 3000 large trees known as favoured food species by elephants. This includes monitoring 62 trees with southern ground hornbills and 258 trees with vulture nests to study the long-term effects of elephants on the nesting sites of these endangered birds. As well as our field research, it is Elephant Alive's belief that to ensure the long-term preservation of free-ranging elephants, it is critical to empower, inform and involve local impoverished communities. We foster linkages with nearby villagers, landowners, lodge managers and guides as well as national and international scientists and conservationists. We encourage building relationships for generations to come, and we prioritise women, including grandmothers who are the pillars of society, similar to the elephant societies we study. Elephants Alive (EA) is a small, impactful South African registered charity, with a permanent staff of seven. It is based in Hoedspruit, bordering Kruger National Park in South Africa and is headed up by co-founder Dr Michelle Henley.