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Content archived on 2024-06-25

Spatial economics and remote sensing of elephant resources

Objective

Using state-of-the-art Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking radio-collar technology 'Save the Elephants' is presently tracking over 40 individual African elephants (Loxodonta africana) across the African continent. Thus collected high-resolution temporal data (1-hourly recordings) with its corresponding high spatial accuracy (at least 0.25 km) and coupled to novel tracking software (developed fully in-house) is now beginning to give STE unique access to a wide range of novel and unexpected insights into elephant movement behaviour.

It appears that these insights are extremely important for the conservation of elephants in general. For example, early analysis already demonstrates (Douglas-Hamilton et al 2005) that the extended ranges of African elephants have distinct 'home' sectors linked by 'travel' corridors. Within each home area the elephants have favourite core or 'hotspot' zones where they tend to spend much of their time and which consequently are heavily utilised. Home sectors and hotspots tend to lie in protected areas.

Connecting corridors typically cross through unprotected habitat and elephants move faster along corridors than elsewhere in their range. We summarize, firstly, that the effective ranges of African elephants are much smaller than previously thought and, secondly, that the animals make unexpectedly complex use of protected and unprotected areas.

We conclude that the new kind of GPS radio collar coupled to advanced analysis allows us, finally, to target (with an eye on best protection) elephant home areas and the all important pathways that link them. Our proposal targets funding to further improve our unique tracking software Loxolab by including decision-based models and environmental layers for simulations and analysis of elephant economics.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Keywords

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Topic(s)

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Call for proposal

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FP6-2004-MOBILITY-3
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

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TOK - Marie Curie actions-Transfer of Knowledge

Coordinator

UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
EU contribution
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Total cost

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