A cross-border elephant tracking initiative has kicked off across Kidepo, Karamoja, and Turkana, bringing together conservationists from Uganda and Kenya in a bid to better understand elephant migration and reduce human-wildlife conflict.
The collaborative operation, launched this week, aims to collar 20 elephants with GPS-enabled satellite transmitters to monitor their movements across international boundaries. The collars will provide real-time data to inform land-use planning and wildlife protection strategies in both countries.
The effort is jointly led by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), and the Kenya Wildlife Research and Training Institute. It is supported by several conservation partners, including the Uganda Conservation Foundation (UCF), Northern Rangeland Trust, Wild Landscapes International, Save the Elephants, and aerial support from Tropic Air and the Mara Elephant Project.
The collaring operation is taking place in extreme conditions. Helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft hover low over the rugged terrain while ground teams work swiftly to locate, tranquilize, collar, and safely revive elephants in seconds. Once fitted, the collars transmit data to EarthRanger, an advanced wildlife monitoring platform already in use across Uganda.
"This mission is critical to understanding how elephants move across landscapes increasingly shaped by human activity," said a UWA official involved in the mission. "It’s not just about elephants—it’s about supporting peaceful coexistence between wildlife and the communities that live alongside them."
The operation is partially funded by the European Union’s NaturAfrica programme and further backed by Wild Landscapes International. The project reflects a shared conservation vision to protect biodiversity while supporting sustainable livelihoods in East Africa’s borderlands.
Among those participating in the operation are three young wildlife veterinarians mentored through UCF. One of them, Dr. Singoma, already experienced with over 500 animal rescues, expressed his pride in being part of the initiative.
“I’m living my dream,” Dr. Singoma said. “Being part of this mission is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I’m learning every day.”
In addition to field veterinarians, teams of GIS analysts, human-wildlife conflict experts, and communications officers are working behind the scenes to manage data and share findings with stakeholders.
The data gathered will be vital for conservationists and policymakers as they plan for sustainable land use, improve wildlife corridors, and implement effective conflict mitigation strategies in one of Africa’s most ecologically significant regions.
As the project progresses, conservationists hope it will serve as a model for regional cooperation in protecting migratory species and preserving ecosystems under threat from expanding human activity.
