beyond borders 2009 mixed - elephants without · pdf filelike to express my appreciation to...

Solutions to Conserve Solutions to Conserve Solutions to Conserve Solutions to Conserve Solutions to Conserve Solutions to Conserve Solutions to Conserve Solutions to Conserve Wildlife Wildlife Wildlife Wildlife Wildlife Wildlife Wildlife Wildlife

and Empower People and Empower People and Empower People and Empower People and Empower People and Empower People and Empower People and Empower People

Inside this issue:

Messages 2

Field Activities

• Collars Deployed

• Aerial Surveys

• Special Projects Hosted

3-6

Outreach & Awareness

• Documentary film

• SDZ Partnership Promos

• State Partnership Program

7-9

Publications 9

Thank you! 10

BBeyond eyond BBorders orders 2009200920092009

Year In Review: Research & Conservation with Elephants Without BordersYear In Review: Research & Conservation with Elephants Without BordersYear In Review: Research & Conservation with Elephants Without BordersYear In Review: Research & Conservation with Elephants Without Borders

The following pages pay testament to Elephants Without Borders conserva-tion achievements in 2009. It proved to be a highly productive year. Our ongoing aerial survey and telemetry studies continue to provide critical in-formation on the status of elephants. We also forged new alliances which are pivotal to our success. EWB’s pro-jects are generously funded by our valued supporters. I would especially like to express my appreciation to the San Diego Zoo for their continued as-sistance. Together with our other do-nors, their unfailing commitment to EWB has enabled us to accomplish our conservation goals and lay the foundation for a strong future.

This year has started off well, as we prepare to start new and ambitious projects: Construction is already un-derway on our new field research camp. The site will include agricultural plots, which will be used to assess methods that work best to reduce ele-phant crop raiding and to train villag-ers in conservation farming methods. This is just one way EWB will help empower local communities to man-

age human wildlife conflicts.

We will continue to expand our te-lemetry studies in the Kavango Zam-bezi TFCA and conduct important ae-rial surveys to determine the popula-tion status of elephants on the south-ern and western periphery of Bot-swana’s range.

EWB remains steadfast, the only NGO working throughout the TFCA on ele-phant conservation and management issues. We are a small organization with a large heart, and even larger tasks ahead, but rest assured we will continue to work towards conserving our natural heritage, with the vigour and enthusiasm such a cause de-serves.

I am quite proud to be part of, what I believe is, one of the most exciting conservation programs and organiza-tions in southern Africa. This past year, 2009, we have made crucial steps towards ensuring the success of our conservation goals, forming strong bonds with partnership organi-zations, and securing tremendous support. Increasingly, we are con-tacted by other organizations, re-searchers, communities and govern-ments who ask for our assistance, which is testimony to our ongoing achievements and success.

However grateful, this is only the be-ginning, as we now turn to embark on new ventures, expanding our projects to create a visionary and practical ap-proach to conservation.

EWB Program Manager

A Message from the Director

Page Page Page 222 Beyond Borders

Dr. Mike Chase, founder of EWB,

received his Phd from UMass. He pre-

fers the name given to him by com-

munity members, “Modise wwa di

Tlou”, “elephant shepherd”.

Considering the accelerating problems of environmental degradation and competition for natural resources, people need to start looking towards changing their outlook, activi-ties, and methods of address-ing these complex issues. We can no longer believe we can “manage” nature and the envi-ronment, rather it is us, our-selves, that need to change to make the difference.

We are in a new era but by working together, I believe we can address these challenges.

Kelly Landen wears “many hats” at

EWB, including organizing the web site,

blogs and publicity, but her true passion

lies in field research and working with

people.

Collars Deployed and Removed

Our telemetry study is unique, because it moni-

tors elephant range patterns in and out of national

parks, across international boundaries and in

habitats ranging from nearly desert to riverine

environments. Within the Kavango Zambezi

TFCA, no other study has sought to conserve a

“flagship” species that covers such a large and var-

ied area. We share the information with appropri-

ate authorities, communities and scientific com-

munity, to promote the conservation of African

elephants and their natural habitats, while simul-

taneously mitigating Human Elephant Conflict

(HEC).

This year EWB successfully deployed nine ele-

phant satellite collars. Six of these were placed on

elephants in the Makgadikgadi and Kalahari eco-

systems. This is the first elephant telemetry study

in this particular region and aims to improve our

understanding of the population dynamics, spatial

ecology, habitat use and human-elephant interac-

tion of elephants on the periphery of their ranges

in Botswana. One collar was deployed on a large

bull, in the Chobe region, as a continuation of our

ongoing research along the Chobe River. The last

two collars were deployed in Hwange NP and

near Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe. The collar in

Hwange was fitted to a captive elephant, subse-

quently released in the park, EWB was asked to

monitor her and her herd’s movements. as they

re-habituate to their natural environment.

Eight satellite and three data-logger collars were

successfully recovered from elephants along the

Botswana Zimbabwe border and the Caprivi Strip

along the Angolan border. We wish to acknowl-

edge Dr. Leo Braack from Conservation Interna-

Field Activities



“If we can’t help save the African elephant...

Aerial Surveys

In September, the Namibia Nature Foundation

commissioned Dr. Chase to conduct an aerial

wildlife census of the Caprivi River systems in

Namibia to determine the abundance, distribution

and trends of wildlife along the Caprivi’s rivers.

This was the third fixed-wing aerial census of this

system, previously surveyed in August 2004

(Stander 2004) and in September 2007 (Chase

2007.) The 2009 survey was important, providing

data to management authorities to compare

changes and trends to previous surveys. The sur-

veys were confined to the Kavango, Kwando, Lin-

yanti, Chobe and Zambezi rivers and their associ-

ated wetlands and floodplains. Hippo and croco-

dile, floodplain ungulates includ-

ing reedbuck, lechwe, waterbuck,

puku and sitatunga were counted.

Other large woodland mammals

(elephant, buffalo, sable, kudu, zebra and impala)

and wetland birds (cranes, pelicans, storks,

ground hornbill and spur-winged goose) and nest-

ing/breeding sites were also recorded.

Funding and support for this survey was received

from the Namibia Nature Foundation, Norwegian

Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad)

and World Wildlife Fund – Norway.

In October, EWB was also commissioned to con-

duct the first fixed-wing aerial census of the Chi-

tabe concession (NG 31) in the Okavango Delta.

The survey was flown by means of a total count,

where the objective was to count all the animals

in the concession. Large woodland mammals such

as elephant, buffalo, wildebeest, zebra and impala;

wetland species, hippo and crocodile; and flood-

Aerial wildlife

censuses provide

governments, park

managers, and

conservancies with

important

information by

determining

wildlife population

estimates,

distributions and

densities to help

conserve and

adaptively manage

wildlife

tional for his support. We appreciate the assis-

tance of Roger Parry of Wild Horizons Trust and

Glynis Vaughan of ZNSPCA for their requests to

partner with EWB to monitor elephant move-

ments in Zimbabwe.

...then what hope do we have...


Special Projects Hosted

March: March: March: March: EWB worked with Animal Media Austra-

lia while filming their latest production,

“Elephant Wars,” a two-part series that delves

into the world of both Asian and African ele-

phants. The film examines the daily struggles that

elephants face to find food in their ever-shrinking

worlds and looks at the conflict between man and

elephant that results when both fight for common

ground needed for their survival. Broadcast to be

announced.

May: May: May: May: San Diego Zoo’s (SDZ) videographer, Shea

Johnson, and Elephant Odyssey Ambassador, Rick

Schwartz, visited EWB and traveled with us on a

familiarization trip into the field to attain video

footage of our project to be used in promotion of

the organizations’ partnership. The footage is dis-

played at the zoo’s new Elephant Odyssey exhibit

and SDZ’s web site.

June: June: June: June: Dr. Chase was interviewed for a half hour

documentary, “Elefants im minenfield,” Co-

plain ungulates, lechwe, reedbuck, and water-

buck; and large birds, cranes, pelicans, storks and

ground hornbill were counted. Concessions such

as Chitabe which adjoin Moremi Game Reserve

are a critical part of the Okavango Delta ecosys-

tem, and provide linkages and corridors for wild-

life movement. At a larger scale the survey will

contribute important data to current conservation

and development programs’ such as the Okavango

Delta Management Plan, Bio-Okavango and inde-

pendent wildlife research projects.

This survey was commissioned and funded by

Flamingo Investments. Further support was pro-

vided by AfriScreen Films and the San Diego Zoo.


...for the rest of Africa’s wildlife?”

produced by ICUC Productions and Richred Pro-

ductions for WDR Weltweit, German television,

aired on Sep 29. This film addresses resettlement

in Angola, after 30 yeas of civil strife, and the

challenges faced by both elephants and people

reclaiming their long lost land. A one hour docu-

mentary is being edited for NHU (Natural History

Unit, Africa.) Broadcast to be announced.

July: July: July: July: EWB colleague, Dr. Ursula Bechert, from

Oregon State University visited the project to fi-

nalize their collaborative efforts on stress-

response profiling of elephants and to discuss pos-

sibilities of further research together.

August: August: August: August: EWB was proud to help the Giraffe Con-

servation Foundation (GCF), led by principal in-

vestigator, Julian Fennessy, with their genetic-

sampling assessment of the population status of

giraffe in Botswana. GCF’s project is critically

important for the current and future conservation

status and management of giraffe in Africa.

The month’s field activities, collaring exercises,

meetings with government officials and other

organizations were accompanied by our collabo-

rative partners from San Diego Zoo’s Institute for

Conservation Research.

September: September: September: September: EWB was honored to host the USA

Ambassador, Stephen J. Nolan and his wife, Judy,

on a field excursion tracking and familiarization

trip in Chobe National Park.

Documentary Film

“Elephants Without Borders”, a documentary fea-

turing the work of EWB, produced by Mike Hold-

ing and Tania Jenkins of Afriscreen Films for the

BBC Natural History Unit and Animal Planet, was

first broadcast on Feb. 6. It was watched by more

than 3 million people on its first night of viewing

and received an overwhelming response and high

rating.

In the USA, it premiered on May3 on Animal

Planet Network’s Mutual of Omaha’s Wild King-

dom, under the title "Elephants: Breaking

Boundaries.” The documentary has won 2nd prize

for Best International Contribution at the Natur-

Vision Film Festival. NaturVision is an interna-

tional nature and wildlife film festival which pre-

sents outstanding new productions from around

the world. Presently, the film is being distributed

internationally.

On April 3, a successful world big screen premiere

viewing of ‘Elephants Without Borders’ was held

in Gaborone, Botswana, hosted by the Botswana

Tourism Board (BTB) at the Botswana Defense

Force’s auditorium in Mogodishane. The premier

was attended by 430 high profile guests, including

His Excellency The President Seretse Khama Ian

Khama, Botswana Minister of Environment,

Wildlife and Tourism, The Honorable Kitso Mo-

kaila, USA Ambassador Stephen J. Nolan, and

Ambassadors to Namibia, Angola and Zambia.

Outreach and Awareness


“Elephants

Without Borders”

is being presented

to various

communities

through out

Botswana and

neighboring

countries


SDZ Partnership Promotions

Mike Chase traveled to the United States to ac-

company the San Diego Zoo’s (SDZ) public rela-

tions team for meetings with news media, maga-

zines, radio shows, and travel companies in New

York City and Washington DC to help advertise

and promote Elephants Without Borders collabo-

ration with the zoo and to contribute to the mar-

keting campaign of the opening of the zoo’s new

elephant exhibit, Elephant Odyssey, scheduled to

open in May. The team met with The Wall Street

Journal, USA Today, Travel & Leisure magazine,

Departures magazine, Family Circle, Redbook

magazine, WABC radio, The Travel Show, the

Associations of Zoos & Aquariums, The Wall

Street Journal, The Washington Post, National

Geographic and Smithsonian Magazine among

other media and organizations.

Afterwards, Mike flew to San Diego to meet with

his Postdoctoral mentor committee, the Associate

Directors of the San Diego Zoo’s Institute for

Conservation Research, the Curator of Mammals,

some of SDZ’s Wild Animal Park & the SD Zoo’s

elephant care staff. They discussed new methods

for integrating research on elephants in the col-

lection with those in the field.

In May, Dr. Chase and Ms. Landen, returned to

the San Diego Zoo to help contribute to the pub-

lic relations and marketing campaign associated

with the opening of the Elephant Odyssey exhibit

through TV interviews, popular articles, newspa-

per and radio interviews. Further, the team met

with the zoo’s Public Relations, Development and

Web teams to join forces to create and maintain

SDZ’s web marketing campaign, Project Elephant

Footprints. Proceeds raised from this campaign go

towards SDZ’s financial support to EWB and the

organizations’ collaborative research efforts in the

field.

Vision: to ensure a prosperous and compatible ...

EWB is partnering

with San Diego

Zoo's Institute for

Conservation

Research on a

project which will

provide new

information and

improve our

understanding of

the African

elephant. The

results will be

applied towards a

long-term

conservation plan

...future between people and wildlife


State Partnership Program

August, Kelly Landen, was invited to speak in

Raleigh, NC and participate in the State Partner-

ship Program of Sustainable Peace (SPP) linking

Botswana to the USA and North Carolina. The

SPP was hosted by USA Director General C.

McKinley, USA Ambassador Stephen Nolan, and

Botswana Defense Force’s Lt. General T.H.C. Ma-

sire. Thirteen Botswana delegates were invited to

speak on issues such as agriculture, technology,

science, medicine, mining, education, public

safety, tourism, legal, environmental, trade and

finance. The SPP teams the USA National Guard

with the State Department, other governmental

agencies, non-government organizations, and pri-

vate organizations and individuals to conduct

events and exchanges in support of program goals

and objectives to link U.S. states with democratic

nations around the world in cooperative activities

of mutual benefit across all sectors of society. Ms.

Landen was honored by receiving Director Gen-

eral McKinley’s personal “coin of excellence” for

Elephants Without Borders endeavors.

Publications & Reports

Chase, M.J. and Griffin, C. 2009. Seasonal abundance and distribution of Elephants in Sioma Ngwezi National Park, southwest

Zambia. Pachyderm.

Chase, M.J. and Landen, K. 2009. Sinking the Flagship or Saving the Elephant? Will the 2008 CITES Ivory Sales Increase

Poaching and Illegal Trade or Help Save African Elephants? Peolowane magazine

Chase, M.J. and Griffin, C. 2009. Elephants caught in the middle: Impacts of war, fences and people on elephant distribution

and abundance in the Caprivi Strip, Namibia. African Journal of Ecology, Volume 47, Issue 2, Pages: 223-233.

Chase, M.J. 2009. Elephant Social Dynamics, Spatial Ecology and Human Elephant Conflict in the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans and

Kalahari Ecosystems, August 2009. Report.

Chase, M.J. 2009. Fixed-wing Aerial Census of the Chitabe Concession (NG31) Okavango Delta, Botswana. Oct. 2009. Report.

Carmignani K. 2009, Jumbo Conservation Project Serves Creatures Large and Small, May 2009, ZooNooz

Pfotenhauer, L. 2009. Elephants Without Borders Film review Peolwane magazine

Publications can be downloaded at www.elephantswithoutborders.org

Visit our blogs of stories and news at elephantswithoutborders.org/blog

Organizations

Zoological Society of San Diego

Mutual & Federal Insurance Co.,

Botswana, Ltd

The Seattle Foundation

Chris Hamilton & ChakariNet

Elephants Without Borders would like to extend its Sincere Gratitude to all our supporters, because of your generosity and encouragement, we continue to

strengthen our efforts in successful conservation.

Thank you for Your Support!Thank you for Your Support!Thank you for Your Support!Thank you for Your Support!

P.O. Box 682, Kasane, Botswana

Tel/Fax: ++267 625-0202

Email: [email protected]

Public

The Rockefeller Family

Larry and Patty Malashock

Bester Family and Claire Kaechel-

hofer

Mr. & Mrs. Brett Warren

Linda & Bob Bradley

Bill & Linda Kolb

Buck & Jo Buchanan

Zola Schwabel

Brenda Richardson

Jim Ledbetter

Anne Hazzard

Heather Brady

Brian Greco

Jonathon Friend

Karen Waters

Kelly Hemphill

Alyssa Kolat

Afriscreen

Air Botswana

Aluminum 2000

Artswana

Botswana Defense Force

Botswana Tourism Board

Mr. A. Chilisa

Crystal Digital Print

De Wet Drilling

Excavator Hire

Gallery Ann

Mr. & Mrs. D. Gilbert

Grand Palm

John Chase Safaris

Kingsley & Associates

Land Rover, Gaborone

Mutual and Federal

Mr. I. Nshakazhogwe

Ray Morgan Agencies

San Diego Zoo

Seafood Wholesale

Senn Foods

Mr. & Mrs. I. Thomson

In Kind Support

The Botswana Government

The Ministry of Environment Wild-

life and Tourism

Botswana Defense Force

Botswana Tourism Board

Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA)

Ministry of Environment and

Tourism, Namibia (MET)

Government of Angola

San Diego Zoo’s Institute for

Conservation Research

John Chase Safaris

Mike Holding & Tania Jenkins

USA Embassy in Botswana

Africa Wildlife Tracking

Film Premier Sponsors Donations received

beyond borders 2009 mixed - elephants without · pdf filelike to express my appreciation to...

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