The Amboseli Mobile Veterinary Unit has successfully collared a female elephant, wrapping up a three-day exercise that saw seven female elephants collared in total.

A collar is a GPS-enabled tracking device fitted around an elephant’s neck, allowing teams to monitor movement in real time. It is a small piece of technology with an outsized role in conservation.

The exercise was carefully planned over weeks. Each elephant had to be located, identified and approached without causing undue stress to the herd. The veterinary team worked alongside researchers and rangers, using helicopters and ground teams to track the animals across the park’s diverse landscapes. Once an elephant was sedated, the collar was fitted quickly and precisely, and the reversal drug administered. Within minutes, each elephant was back on her feet, reunited with her herd.

Collaring is about understanding. By tracking elephant movements in real time, KWS gains critical insights into migration patterns, habitat use and how elephants respond to environmental changes such as drought and rising temperatures. This data informs decisions about park management, corridor protection and water point placement.

It also helps detect early signs of human-wildlife conflict. When an elephant moves toward farmland or settlements, the tracking data allows teams to respond quickly, either by guiding the animal back to safety or by alerting communities so they can take precautions. Early warning saves crops, protects livelihoods and reduces the risk of dangerous encounters.

When an elephant is injured, unwell or in distress, the collar provides the precise location, enabling rapid veterinary intervention. In a landscape as vast as Amboseli, finding a single elephant without tracking technology can take days. With a collar, it takes hours.

The seven elephants collared this week will now contribute to a growing body of data that helps KWS protect entire populations. Their movements will reveal the hidden pathways they use to navigate the landscape, the watering points they depend on, and the areas where they are most vulnerable.

This information is especially important in Amboseli, where elephants range far beyond the park’s boundaries into community lands. Understanding where they go and why, is essential for fostering coexistence. It allows KWS to work with communities to reduce conflict, secure corridors and ensure that both people and wildlife can thrive.

This exercise reflects the KWS priorities outlined in our Strategic Plan, which envisions thriving wildlife populations and healthy habitats for all, forever. Further, it recognises that achieving this vision requires science-driven approaches and strong partnerships with communities.

The collaring exercise was made possible through collaboration between KWS, conservation partners and researchers who share a commitment to protecting Kenya’s elephants. It is a reminder that conservation is a collective effort that brings together expertise, resources and a shared sense of purpose.

To support KWS conservation efforts and help us continue protecting Kenya’s elephants, please visit https://kwspay.ecitizen.go.ke/donate.