2018

MICHELLE HENLEY

Julie Kern, Anka Bedetti & Robin Cook

ANNUAL REPORT

10/1/2018

Elephants Alive

PROUD (Photo: Christin Winter)

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Elephants are worthy of our protection, interest and passion. Numerous elephant attributes are a call to action to strive to share our space with them. They are social role models, constant gardeners, seed dispersers, mega-composting machines, umbrella species in that if we succeed in conserving elephants we will automatically be providing habitat for numerous other species, key-stone species as some ecological processes cannot take place without elephants and they are financial assets. Their last attribute has almost cost them their existence as human greed drives continued illegal killings for their ivory. Despite their large size, we have already lost a third of the continental population in less than a decade. Elephants Alive is committed to living up to its name and ensuring the long-term survival of the African elephant. All our activities this past year have focussed on increased protection through better knowledge (research), education and awareness. What we have achieved has been due to a small but very dedicated team unpinned by a wider and larger benevolent network of sponsors, donors, landowners and reserve managers. We are very grateful to all involved. The elephants have taught us well. Relationship is key to success and we thank you for being part of the network to keep Elephants Alive!

Michelle Henley (PhD, PGCE) Director, Co-founder & Principal Researcher

In memory of Ganesh, the Rhodesian Ridgeback

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INDEX

Executive summary..........................................................................................................4 Overall research and protection strategy.........................................................................4 Summary of core activities...............................................................................................6

1) The individual elephant identification study......................................................6

2) Elephant movement by means of satellite tracking..........................................11 3) Large tree protection study………………………………………….………………………………..19

Communication and education………………………………………..............................................25 Finances………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……33 Sponsors and partners...................................................................................................34 Bee project conceptual model: How does it work?.........................................................35 Staff Collages………………………………………….……………….…………………………………….………….…36 Activity Collages…………………………………………….…………………….………………………….…………..37 .

Photo: Mike Kendrick

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Save the Elephants – South Africa (STE-SA) was officially started by Ms Marlene McCay (STE Trustee), Dr.

Iain Douglas-Hamilton and Dr Michelle Henley in 2003 but draws on two decades of data collection within

the Associated Private Nature Reserves (APNR) and elsewhere. Elephants Alive (EA) became an

independent and registered Non-profit Organisation in 2012 after STE-SA had officially registered with the

South African Revenue Service on the 9th of July 2007, as a charity and public benefit organisation (NPO #

055-871; PBO # 9300300852). Overall, EA is committed to applied research, conservation and information

dissemination in southern Africa and beyond. Elephants Alive is sustained by public support and enthusiasm

and is dedicated to the ongoing growth of man’s understanding of elephant ecology. Our research, which

is more than twenty years in the making, is aimed at improving our knowledge of the ecological processes

that propagate the coexistence of elephants, their habitat and people.

Mission

It is our mission to ensure the survival of elephants and their habitats and to promote harmonious co-

existence between man and elephants.

Vision

Provide science-based information to secure the survival of elephants within intact ecosystems.

Create awareness of the plight of elephants at a time when populations are being decimated across

Africa.

Capture hearts and minds through research, education, advocacy and networking both locally and

internationally.

Values

Valuing the importance of science-based decision making

Respect for life and the integrity of nature

Promoting mindfulness and accountability

OVERALL RESEARCH AND PROTECTION STRATEGY

The strategy of Elephants Alive involves a two-pronged approach in accordance with our logo strap line

‘Science and Survival’. Elephants Alive strives to put the science on the table (1-5) in order to better protect

elephants and ensure their survival by creating awareness and informing decision makers (6-7). Our

strategy/goals include:

1. To maintain long-term elephant tracking datasets, which provide information on landscape use in

relation to perceived and real threats to elephants, habitat expansion from localised impact and the

efficacy of proposed corridors.

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2. To improve our knowledge of the ecological processes which promote the co-existence of elephants,

their habitat and people.

3. To develop a knowledge base of the last remaining big tusked individuals found within the Great

Limpopo Transfrontier Park (GLTP) and to use these flagship individuals as educational tools to

address broader conservation concerns that not only involve elephant ecology but also the trade in

ivory.

4. To contribute towards science-based management decisions.

5. To contribute towards the improved management of elephants by providing information on the

impact of elephants as drivers of ecosystem change in relation to indicator species such as large trees

(primary) and selected tree nesting birds (secondary).

6. Create awareness of the plight of elephants at a time when populations are being decimated across

Africa by capture hearts and minds through research, education, advocacy and networking both

locally and internationally

7. To develop information and communication delivery systems to provide multi-scale information to

the scientific community, South African National Parks, The Associated Private Nature Reserves, the

Managers of Limpopo- and Gonarezhou National Park, non-profit conservation bodies, the Veterinary

and Community-based organisations. Information sharing aimed at increasing the protection of

elephants will be prioritised because of recent trends in the illegal killings of elephants.

Photo: Wynand Uys Photo: Michelle Henley

Elephants Alive and 300 Maseke Community children during the Ronnie Makukule partaking in a puppet Global March for Elephants and Rhinos. The Black Mambas show on World Elephant Day formed the eyes of the elephant.

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SUMMARY OF CORE ACTIVITIES

Our core activities are centred on three main projects involving a long term ID-, tracking and the large tree

protection study. Some of the results of these three focus areas are highlighted in detail in this report.

Other results will come out as scientific publications. In brief:

1) Since 1996, we have been studying individually identified elephants to better understand

population dynamics and how safety and social benefits, other than nutritional needs, drive

elephant movements. In collaboration with colleagues abroad, we have looked at the social network

analysis of the APNR bull population, considered their genetics and taken vocal recordings of

different social groupings.

2) We are focussed on understanding the motivation behind elephant movements from core

conservation areas such as the Kruger National Park (KNP) into peripheral Protected Areas along its

western, eastern and northern borders. Since 1998, we have deployed 90 GSM/GPS satellite collars

in a 135 collaring operations.

3) Within South Africa, a mild form of Human-Elephant-Conflict (HEC) has arisen where elephant

populations are either damaging infrastructure by fence breakages thereby threatening human

security or are found to impact on iconic large tree species which are considered of ecological and

aesthetic importance to reserve managers, tourists and landowners. Protecting certain landscape

features and ensuring human security will foster positive human-elephant interactions. Hence, we

have been studying the accumulated impact of elephants on large trees since 2004 and have looked

at mitigation methods, which could be used to increase the survival rate of large trees. We currently

are testing eight different mitigation strategies to protect large trees. Using beehives as a deterrent

has proved so successful that we have collaborated with colleagues abroad to investigate the use

of bee pheromones as mitigation measures.

1) The Individual Elephant Identification Study

by Dr. Julie Kern

1,467 adult males were identified in the APNR population from 2003–2017 (mean±SE number of newly

identified individuals p/year = 97.8±13, range=18–204; Fig. 1). Most identified bulls belonged to the young

adult (41%), adult (30%) and prime (26%) age categories, with fewer immature (3%) individuals identified.

The annual number of new bulls identified declined over the study period, with over half the population

being identified in the first seven years of the study. Individuals were seen 1.7±0.03 times per year

(mean±SE, range=1–24). 46% of identified bulls were re-sighted at least once over the fifteen-year period

(mean±SE number of sightings per individual=4.9±0.4, range=1–379), 10% were seen on at least ten

occasions, and 4% (N=51) were seen annually from their first identification until the present day or until

their known mortality date (excluding bulls first sighted in 2017).

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Figure 1. The total number of bulls identified within the APNR increased steadily from 2003–2017

(combined stacked columns). Each year both new (pale grey) and already identified (dark grey) individuals

were observed, alongside other individuals that were not seen (white).

Summary of growth by means of census results

In the last decade, the total APNR population increased from 1,581 individuals in 2008 to 1,875 individuals

in 2017, peaking at 2,766 in 2015 (Fig. 2a; Table 1). Within the APNR, the relative proportion of bulls and

herds remained consistent over this period (Fig. 2b). The average annual population growth rate (r) over

the period was 0.02 (range -0.34–0.40) or 3.96% (range -28.7%–48.8%). We found no evidence for direct-

or time lagged- density dependent impacts on APNR growth rates.

Figure 2. APNR elephant population: (a) observed population growth (black line) from 2008-2017,

compared to the theoretical maximum growth rate (7%, red line) for an elephant population (Calef 1988),

(b) proportion of the population counted as members of breeding herds and calves (dark grey) and in adult

bull groups (light grey) during annual aerial censuses from 2008–2016. No breakdown of total census counts

was available for 2017.

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Within the APNR, population growth varied widely between component reserves (Fig. 3). Timbavati Private

Nature Reserve (TPNR) showed the lowest average annual population growth rate (r) of -0.02 or 2.8%

(range -48.8%–48.3%). Klaserie Private Nature Reserve (KPNR) had an average annual population growth

rate (r) of 0.02 or 10.4% (range -38.6%–90.1%), Umbabat Private Nature Reserve (UPNR) of -0.01 or 18.4%

(range -52.1%–225.4%), and Balule Private Nature Reserve (BPNR) showed the highest average annual

population growth rate (r) of 0.06 or 19.6% (range -64.8%–186.9%).

Figure 3. Elephant population growth for the APNR’s component reserves from 2008–2017: (a) Observed

population growth in BPNR (green line), KPNR (blue line), TPNR (orange line), and UPNR (red line), together

forming the total APNR population (grey area), (b) Map of the APNR component reserves, shaded by mean

annual population growth rate (%).

Total APNR population density increased from 0.82 individuals p/km2 in 2008 to 1.01 individuals p/km2 in

2017, peaking at 1.49 individuals p/km2 in 2015 (Table 1). Within the APNR, elephant density showed

considerable variation between component reserves (Fig. 4). UPNR and TPNR had the lowest mean

elephant densities (UPNR: 0.67 individuals p/km2, TPNR 0.79 p/km2), while BPNR and KPNR supported the

highest mean elephant densities (BPNR: 1.15 p/km2, KPNR 1.26 p/km2).

Figure 4. Elephant density for the APNR’s component reserves during 2008, 2012 and 2017, shaded by

density.

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Mortality

All received reports of dead elephants were investigated, and the age and cause of mortality

(anthropogenic causes: trophy hunting, problem animal control, euthanasia following injury, illegal

poaching, snaring or death on roads or railway lines; natural causes: conflict, disease, old age, or unknown)

were recorded. Photographs for individual identification of dead bulls were only available for 12% (N=43)

of all recorded mortalities within the APNR. Additional mortality data available prior to 2003 were included

in mortality analysis.

359 elephant deaths were recorded in the APNR from 1992–2017. Cause of death (natural vs

anthropogenic) could be accurately determined for the majority of individuals (98%, N=351). Natural causes

accounted for most female mortality (74%, N=20), while the majority of male deaths resulted from

anthropogenic influences (90%, N=284). Trophy hunting was responsible for 87% of all human-induced

male mortalities, and within the young-adult to prime age categories, trophy hunting was the single

greatest cause of death in elephant bulls in the APNR (mean±SE=84%±3.8%; Fig. 5). Eight (13%) of the 60

collared bulls in the APNR died during the study period (50% anthropogenic-, 12% natural-, 38% unknown

causes), compared to 23 (2%) of the 1,443 uncollared individuals (91% anthropogenic-, 4% natural-, 5%

unknown causes).

Figure 5. Proportion of age-specific elephant-bull mortalities within the APNR from 1992–2017 resulting

from trophy hunting (black), other anthropogenic causes (grey), or natural causes (white).

Morphometrics from collared data

Morphometric measurements of the back length, shoulder height, feet length and width were taken for 43

males and 19 females aged 12-53 from 2005-2017, alongside measurements of tusk length and width. Of

these individuals, 26 were recollared during the study period (N=14 males, 12 females), thus measured on

multiple occasions. Blood and tail hair samples were collected from the immobilized animals for DNA and

carbon isotope analyses of short-term dietary changes, respectively. Dental impressions were taken from

11 bulls. Speedex Putty was used as a silicone-based impression material together with Universal Activator

from Coltène/Whaledent AG (Coltène, Altstsätten, Switzerland). Age estimates (accurate within ± 3 years)

could then be made from all molar progressions for these individuals, alongside a further six individuals

whose molar progressions were aged in situ.

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A method to measure male elephant age, morphological features (body and tusk size), and reproductive

status (musth or non-musth) from digital photographs was developed by the post-doctoral intern, Caitlin

Black. She compared the measurements taken in situ during collaring events and compared these to tusk-

to-body-size ratios measured from 2,013 images of 406 individuals, collected over an 18-year period by the

Elephant’s Alive field team. Twelve tusk-to-body-size ratios were calculated using pixel measurements

taken with the ruler tool in Adobe Illustrator CC. Of these, four were recommended as practical, non-

invasive measures with which to estimate elephant age and size from images: 1) tusk length: foot diameter,

2) tusk length: tusk diameter, 3) tusk length: head height, and 4) tusk length: head girth. Tusk length: foot

diameter provided the best estimates of body size when compared to in situ measurements, likely because

foot diameter is not dependent on the angle of the individual’s body relative to the camera. Tusk length:

tusk diameter provided the best estimates of age. By obtaining data on tusk morphometrics, images also

have the potential to provide insight into the relationship between tusk size and sociality, dominance,

individual condition, hormones and phenology, all of which are associated with individual fitness. In

addition, the study demonstrated that images could provide valuable information on the timing of musth

in males. We believe this methodology has the potential to provide ecologists, reserve managers, and

hunters with a tool to objectively identify the age and size of large, prime-aged males, to best conserve

those individuals most likely to contribute to the population’s genetic and social structure.

CLASSIC (Photo: Michelle Henley)

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2) Elephant movements by means of satellite tracking

by Anka Bedetti de Kock

Since 1998, we have deployed 90 GSM/GPS satellite collars in a 135 collaring operations. Seven additional

collars were deployed this year, other than the 60 deployed on bulls and 23 deployed on cows over time

(Fig. 6).

Figure 6. Gnatt chart on the bulls collared from 1998 until 2017.

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Figure 7. Gnatt chart on the cows collared from 2004 until 2017.

The proportion of GPS locations found outside of the APNR for immature (N=11), young (N=12), adult

(N=13) and prime (N=15) radio-collared bulls indicates that the collared females and their accompanying

immature males are more site faithful and less seasonal in their movements compared to the other cohorts

of bulls that were collared within the APNR population (Fig. 8). The GPS locations of collared females were

included in the analysis for the immature age category as most immature males will still be socially

dependent on their natal family units and will therefore be in close proximity to them. The young bull

category, which includes those bulls dispersing from their natal family units, clearly shows their increased

exploratory movements into neighbouring KNP during the late summer months and early dry season.

Overall, prime males tend to spend more time in the KNP during the course of a year compared to adult

bulls, which will be starting to experience annual musth cycles. Prime males tend to move into KNP more

at the onset of increased rainfall. This may be in response to their musth timing when females could be

responding to the first flush of green vegetation, which triggers oestrous. The adult males appear to have

a slightly delayed increase of movements into KNP in relation to a peak in rainfall. This may be to avoid

competition with the prime bulls during musth. The tracking data will be analysed more closely in relation

to musth cycles to test these preliminary predictions.

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Figure 8. The proportion of locations for elephants collared within the APNR but found within the

neighbouring Kruger National Park in relation to the annual rainfall cycle for immature males and females,

young bulls, adult bulls and prime bulls. The solid line represents mean monthly rainfall collated from three

weather stations within and in close proximity to the APNR.

Home range sizes varied depending on the study region, the age of the collared animal and the period over

which the animal was tracked (Table 1). The home ranges of young bulls within the APNR and bulls within

the Limpopo National Park (LNP) in Mozambique proved to be the largest. The elephant cows within the

northern regions of the KNP had the largest home ranges. Core ranges were generally similar in size

although they were twice the size for bulls found within LNP. The large home ranges of young bulls collared

within the APNR is largely due to extensive exploratory movements into neighbouring KNP as they leave

their natal families. The number of locations found within the KNP, during the late summer and early dry

season months (Fig. 8), corroborates these results. The large home ranges of the bulls in LNP are largely

due to extensive nocturnal movements for safety reasons (Table 2) as well as movements between

protected areas (Fig 9). For the elephant cows collared in the north of the KNP, movements across

international boundaries into both Mozambique and Zimbabwe accounted for their comparatively large

home ranges.

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Table 1. Home ranges for male and female elephants collared within the different regions of Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park.

NAME SEX TIME PERIOD ALOCOH HOME RANGE (KM2) 10% 50% 100%

KNP EAST M 2006-2010 13.37 (±13.15)

198.79 (±202.33)

2772.12 (±2008.84)

KNP NORTH M 2009-2013

15.90 (±24.73)

165.80 (±132.38)

2595.80 (±1404.26)

F 10.31 (±3.5)

157.43 (±91.61)

2124.57 (±1895.13)

APNR*

M Young

Adult

Prime

2002-2014

- - -

- - -

4056.12

(±1200) 1152.15

(±324)

2312.15 (±390)

F 1212.82 (±178)

LNP M 2016-2018

22.15 (±14.31)

350.22 (±288.71)

3595.33 (±3159.57)

F 12.82 (±3.89)

163.43 (±84.37)

1448.50 (±817.49)

*The Home Rangers for the APNR elephants need to be updated until the current date

Table 2. Proportions of diurnal versus nocturnal distances covered for bulls and cows within Limpopo National Park. Overall, larger distances were covered under the cover of darkness than during daylight hours. Refer to maps on page 17 for a visual representation of diurnal versus nocturnal movements.

Months Oct-2017 Nov-2017 Dec-2017 Jan-2018 Feb-2018 Mar-2018 TOTAL

Km Day Night Day Night Day Night Day Night Day Night Day Night Day Night

Gemma 34.05 65.95 40.83 59.17 26.82 73.18 - - 30.30 69.70 35.11 64.89 33.94 66.06

Thandi 47.65 52.35 85.44 14.56 41.99 58.01 - - 36.05 63.95 45.88 54.12 49.73 50.27

Tinky 49.36 50.64 42.58 57.42 40.62 59.38 - - 36.05 63.95 43.67 56.33 41.46 58.54

Francesca 28.81 71.19 20.93 79.07 18.59 81.41 29.36 70.64 27.10 72.90 36.00 64.00 26.38 73.62

Max 46.62 53.38 34.48 65.52 37.12 62.88 42.16 57.84 42.79 57.21 39.06 60.94 39.71 60.29

Nicky 27.32 72.68 38.25 61.75 33.29 66.71 43.74 56.26 23.85 76.15 26.57 73.43 31.29 68.71

Winslow 29.92 70.08 13.08 86.92 21.62 78.38 21.42 78.58 31.78 68.22 26.12 73.88 23.11 76.89

Merlin 26.25 73.75 26.32 73.68 20.73 79.27 22.91 77.09 19.30 80.70 27.26 72.74 23.99 76.01

Dusty 22.09 77.91 22.90 77.10 25.78 74.22 24.87 75.13 32.92 67.08 17.10 82.90 24.16 75.84

Note: Some data was lost for three collars in January 2018, meaning the light blue boxes are not completely accurate.

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Figure 9. The movement of Merlin from Limpopo National Park into neighbouring Bahnine National Park in Mozambique.

The elephant movements in Mozambique differ from those in the KNP and APNR. We are seeing effects, which indicate that these animals are probably under security risk. These include:

1) Overall shifts in home ranges away from LNP into KNP at the time the poaching crisis escalated (Fig. 10)

2) A ‘doughnut effect’ where areas around villages within the Park are actively avoided (Fig. 11) 3) A shift to a preponderance in nocturnal movements when in LNP (Fig. 12)

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Figure 10. Two examples of the home range shifts over time for the bulls, Nwambi and Mondli who were both collared in northern Kruger National Park.

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Figure 11. So-called doughnut effect according to which elephants collared in Mozambique (2016 to date) are avoiding areas inhabited by people. The populated places depict the centre of human presence without the radius of crop fields or livestock areas (LNP in Mozambique), or the entire perimeter of tourist camps (KNP in South Africa)

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Figure 12. The movements of (a) a cow (Francesca) within LNP clearly showing how thick ironwood forests are used during the day for concealment with extensive movements occurring at night and (b) a bull (Merlin) showing a more equal proportion of day and night movements when in KNP compared to LNP.

a

b

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3) Large Trees Protection Study

by Robin Cook

Overview

One of Elephants Alive’s (EA) core research objectives is to understand how elephants influence the

population dynamics and survival rates of big trees within the Associated Private Nature Reserve (APNR).

This research involves continually monitoring elephant impact on the same trees over many years, as well

as developing and testing mitigation methods that may help conservation managers protect selected big

tree species for both aesthetic and ecological reasons. Our big tree projects stretch over the Balule, Klaserie,

Timbavati and Umbabat Private Nature Reserves (Figure 13), with various scientific publications covering

our research (Vogel et al. 2014; Derham et al. 2016; Edge et al. 2017; Cook et al. 2017, 2018).

Figure 13. Selection of Elephants Alive's big tree project sites across the Associated Private Nature

Reserve, South Africa.

Mitigation Methods

Elephant impact on big trees is a natural phenomenon, as elephants largely browse during the drier months

when grass availability decreases. However, in a water saturated landscape such as the APNR, the

encounter rate between elephants and big trees is increased because of an increase in the elephants’

residency time. Conservation managers are concerned about the loss of big tree species as a consequence

of this continual impact, leading to mild forms of human-elephant conflict. In recent years, EA have begun

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testing various mitigation methods, which could protect individual big trees from elephant impact, thereby

increasing big tree survival rate within a system containing elephants (Table 3). EA also evaluates mitigation

methods currently being used by conservation managers in order to compare the success rate of each

method and consult managers on the most practical methods, which can be used to increase big tree

survival.

Table 3. Tested and proposed mitigation methods for protecting big trees from elephant impact.

Cost/tree Longevity Resource

use Efficacy Discussion

Wire-netting

R100 5 years Low 1.7% bark-stripping vs 25% control

Low aesthetics. High success rate for protecting against main stem bark-stripping. Does not prevent stem snapping and uprooting. Method is applied across the APNR.

Bee hives

Wooden: R620 3 years+

Low-medium

6% impacted vs

66% control

Highly successful method at protecting big trees from elephant impact. Honey can be harvested as a bi-product. High maintenance required, particularly during dry months. Method applied since December, 2015.

BeePak: R5,000 10 years+

Rock/ Pyramid packing

>R1,700 (R4.25/pyramid)

10-20 years

High

Results in fewer

instances of tree

mortality

Can increase tree survival if rocks are tightly packed and at least 3 m wide in radius. Hard manual labour require to build pyramids, whilst moving hundreds of natural rocks could impact micro fauna. Method applied since 2005.

Creosote R5 <1year Low 38%

creosote vs 54% control

Tins/cans of creosote and rocks nailed to trees. Creosote is toxic to the environment, is not an effective repellent for elephant impact, and shattered tins/glass and creosote are left in the environment following major impact. Method applied since August, 2017.

Chilli oil Low 1-4 weeks Medium

92% crop raiding

attempts repelled

Method is yet to be tested on big trees in South Africa. Anecdotal evidence from southern Africa. Successful at protecting fence-lines from elephant incursions.

Bee attack pheromone

High 2 months Not

available yet

Still developing

Bee attack pheromones have been successful at repelling wild elephant exposed to real bees. This method is yet to be tested on trees and more chemical compounds are being isolated for further research.

Neem oil R10-R20 3 days Low Anecdotal- still testing

Bio-neem sprayed in large quantities across trees. Small half-life and unknown side-effects of the pesticide in the environment. Testing to commence on a small-scale to evaluate effectiveness.

Dung mud paste

Low if accessible

Several weeks

High

Improves tree health Barrier to

insects

Fermented elephant dung, cattle/buffalo dung and clay spread over the main stem of a tree. Main effect is the healing of impacted trees, although anecdotal evidence suggests it may serve as an elephant repellent. This method is yet to be tested.

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Installation of BeePak Hives

In October 2017, Elephants Alive replaced 25 wooden catcher hives from the initial phase of the study with

new BeePak hives. The EMS Foundation generously sponsored the BeePak hives, and Mark Collins from

BeePak visited the experimental site to set up the hives with the assistance of Elephants Alive staff. To date,

the BeePak hives have been great replacements for the wooden hives and have enabled the researchers to

easily assess the honeybees and assess their health and honey levels. The hives have also maintained their

structural integrity in the harsh weather conditions to which they are continually exposed. All BeePak hives

have been fitted with plastic frames containing wires, whilst wax foundation strips have been attached to

each frame. BeePak hives are placed on tree-hanging platforms.

Assessments

Elephant impact assessments were carried out on all 150 trees in November 2017. These are the most

recent assessments since those of September 2016.

Since the December 2015 baseline assessments, 33 control trees (66%) have now received some form of

elephant impact, in comparison to 22 wire-netted (44%) and 3 beehive trees (6%). Wire-netted trees have

also been particularly vulnerable to more extreme forms of elephant impact between the 2016 and 2017

assessments. Of the beehive trees, 1 tree with an active beehive had secondary branches broken when a

musth bull ripped out the active beehive from the tree (21 November 2016), whilst a tree with 2 inactive

beehives was uprooted on the 25th of October 2017.

Our result suggest that beehives, both active and inactive, continue to serve as an effective deterrent

against elephant impact on marula trees. The next assessment of the beehive study site will take place in

November 2018.

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Honey Production

In November 2017, Elephants Alive carried out a honey production workshop to train its staff on how to

use the new spinning machine for harvesting honey from combs. Combs from a recently abandoned

beehive were placed inside the spinning machine and four jars of honey were harvested. A further 1.3ℓ

have been harvested in September 2018 to provide samples at the EA Fundraising Dinner with Iain Douglas-

Hamilton. Ronny Makukule, Elephants Alive’s Bee Project Officer, will be spearheading the honey

production process from October 2018 onward when honeybee food sources are more readily available

after the first rains.

Beehive Translocations to Mica Village

The ongoing drought conditions have threatened the survival of the honeybees in JPNR due to a shortage

of food resources. A decision was made to move the surviving colonies to Mica Village for safekeeping over

the winter months. Mica Village (Elephants Alive headquarters) has an abundance of flowers, water and

adequate shade. All active colonies were moved overnight on the 12th and 13th of March 2018. To date, all

17 transferred colonies are still active.

Cleaned-out empty beehives have been hung in the place of the removed beehives in JPNR. From casual

observations, these empty beehives have continued to protect the trees in which they are hanging.

Furthermore, wild honeybee swarms have passed through the experimental site during the winter months,

with the highest level of activity being six wild swarms occupying the empty beehives.

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Honeybee Alarm Pheromone Study (Wild Elephants)

Elephants Alive, in collaboration with the University of Hawaii at Manoa (Professor Mark Wright), Dr.

Agenor Mafra-Neto (ISCA Technologies) and Transfrontier Africa, have undertaken new research on the use

of honeybee alarm pheromones as a potential mitigation method for elephants. The honeybee alarm

pheromone is comprised of a number compounds and is produced by honeybees when threatened.

Production of this pheromone by honeybee guards increases the aggression levels of their colony, leading

to the honeybee attack response.

JPNR trials: 86.2% of elephants interacting with treatments showed distinct hesitation behaviour or

were repelled, while 0% were repelled by controls.

Maseke trials: 64.3% of elephants interacting with the treatments exhibited behaviour suggesting

deterrence, while 0% were repelled by controls.

Elephants responded in a subtle yet distinct manner to the stimulus. They were not stimulated to

bolt in fear, but showed a relatively calm response, which is a desirable degree of deterrence for

such large animals.

Vulture Nest Surveys

Overview

EA have been conducting annual vulture nest surveys since 2008 in order to monitor the effect that

elephants have on big trees that are used by vultures. These surveys take place towards the end of the dry

season in the Klaserie, Timbavati and Umbabat Private Nature Reserves, and predominantly focus on the

endangered white-backed vulture (Gyps africanus) nests. Results from Vogel et al. (2014) indicated that

vulture nest survival rates in the APNR were significantly lower in comparison to the survival rate of the

trees in which they nest, indicating external factors other than elephants may be influencing vulture

survival. However, it is important to continually monitor these nests and trees to assess the trees’

vulnerability to elephants, both in the short- and long-term.

Our latest completed surveys were conducted in September 2017. No trees with active vulture nests were

pushed over or felled during the 2016 and 2017 surveys. In the Klaserie, 49 active nests were recorded, of

which 96% occurred in knobthorn (Acacia nigrescens) trees. This is an increase from 43 active nests in 2016

and 41 in 2015. The average height of active vulture trees in the Klaserie is 11.36 m. In the Timbavati, 63

active nests were recorded, of which the majority were on knobthorn (A. nigrescens; 57%) and Apple leaf

(Philenoptera violacea; 9.5%) trees. This is an increase in active nests from the 2016 (47 trees) and 2015

(56 trees) surveys. The average height of vulture nest trees in the Timbavati is 10.43 m. Only 2 active nests

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are present in the Umbabat, both on mopane (Colophospermum mopane) trees, and this number has

remained standard in recent surveys. The average height of the Umbabat vulture nest trees is 14.23 m.

We are excited to be including Balule Private Nature Reserve into the annual surveys for the first time this

year. This will add an extra 41 active vulture nests to our survey.

Elephant-Tree Dynamics in the Makuleke Region of the Kruger National Park

Johna Turner has been conducting his Master of Science degree research in the Makuleke region of the

Kruger National Park, focusing on elephant-tree dynamics and other causes for the loss of big trees in this

system. A particular focus is on the changes in population dynamics of Ana (Faidherbia albida) and fever

(Vachellia xanthophloea) trees along the Luvuvhu river floodplain during the 2000 and 2013 floods.

Between June and September 2017, Elephants Alive interns Priscilla Bailly and Rodolphe Roussel assisted

Johna with various aspects of his analyses. Rodolphe’s research focused the regeneration of woodlands

around the Luvuvhu River over time span of 80 years, making use of aerial photographs and satellite

imagery. This involved the changes in woodland dynamics, both before and after the 2000 and 2013 floods.

Tree cover in selected sites had decreased from 4.33 tree/ha to 1.44 trees/ha after the 2000 flood, and 0.89

trees/ha to 0.37 trees/ha after the 2013 flood. These preliminary results suggest that the decline in the

number of mature trees is closely linked to the flood episodes, after which browsing pressure may prevent

woodland regeneration. Priscilla’s research then focused on the impact that elephants and small browsers

have on the regeneration of the fever tree and Ana tree woodlands. Results suggested that both elephants

and small browsers concentrated on tree saplings in the late dry season (August-October), with the small

browsers having a significantly higher impact on the fever tree regeneration versus that of the Ana trees.

This browsing pressure may be preventing the regeneration of fever trees following the 2013 flood, which

wiped out many centenary trees. Johna is continuing with this research to understand the various factors

affecting the population dynamics of woodlands within the Makuleke region.

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COMMUNICATION AND EDUCATION

We here summarize some of the highlights of our communication and education endeavours in bullet

points:

Elephants Alive continues to widen its network of collaborations and partnerships (Table 4).

We have had a productive few years in terms of scientific publications (please refer to the list for

the past four years).

We have also printed a manual on how to use bees to protect trees.

We developed a mobile application together with Bring the Elephant Home for data capture by

scientists and practitioners working on human-elephant-coexistence.

Michelle Henley and Jessica Wilmot participated in various Damage Causing Animal Workshops.

Participation in a translocation workshop, hosted by the Elephant Specialist Advisory Group of South

Africa will lead to an updated translocation booklet, which we hope will benefit many parties across

Africa.

Under the directorship of Dr. Kari Morfeld, our stress-hormone laboratory was filled with students

helping extract hormones from elephant faecal samples collected in the field.

Melody Busuttil completed her MSc with Elephants Alive and received top marks.

Priscilla Bailly and Rodolphe Roussel both handed in detailed reports at their respective academic

institutions on their respective research topics while based at Elephants Alive.

The Bull Elephant Social Network Project, under directorship of Dr. Hannah Mumby brought Dr.

Caitlin Black, Dr. Derek Murphy and Teresa Santos to our field site to gain a practical understanding

of our field collection methods.

Dr. Lisa Yon and PhD candidate, Fiona Sach from the University of Nottingham also visited our study

site for sample collection.

Antoinette van de Water registered as a PhD candidate with Elephants Alive and the University of

KwaZulu-Natal.

Anka Bedetti delivered a presentation and Jessica Wilmot a poster at the Savanna Science Network

Meeting in the Kruger National Park.

Michelle Henley was invited to a workshop entitled ‘The conservation applications of research on

elephant behaviour and ecology’ organised by Dr. Hannah Mumby in Berlin’s Wissenschaftskolleg

Institute for Advanced Study.

Tammy Eggeling delivered a presentation on behalf of EA regarding our Big Tree Mitigation

strategies at the South African Wildlife Management Association and proudly came in as the fourth

best presentation amongst a very large audience.

Robin Cook, as Elephants Alive’s Big Tree Projects Manager, was awarded the best post-graduate

student award from the University of the Witwatersrand for the work he did with Elephants Alive

using bees to protect marula trees from elephant impact.

Michelle Henley submitted comments on the Elephant Management Plan of SANParks.

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We launched the MegaMiles4Elephants Fundraising Campaign together with the Mike McMillan

Foundation to assist with elephant breakouts and mitigate against human-elephant-conflict.

Elephants Alive and Wildlifevets team members participated in a triathlon to raise funds and

awareness for the campaign to help protect elephants.

The Elephants Alive team participated in the Rhino Warrior challenge in support of rhino protection.

The Elephants Alive team hosted a very successful fundraiser event in the local town of Hoedspruit.

Dr. Iain Douglas-Hamilton kindly spoke at a fundraising event organised by Adele Vincent and Fiona

Allenburg in support of the MegaMiles4Elephants campaign at CNR Corner Café in Johannesburg,

South Africa.

The Riverleigh International Equestrian Centre will kindly be donating funds raised at their annual

equipage event.

We will extend our reach in Mozambique, other than already having study animals within Great

Limpopo National Park, after having concluded an agreement with ANAC to collar elephants in

Maputo Special Reserve in February of 2019 together with the Young Presidents Organisation and

Safari Giants.

We extend our reach into Botswana by collaborating with Elephants for Africa and inviting Dr. Kate

Evans onto our Board while Michelle Henley will serve on her Board.

We are delighted to welcome two other new Board members as part of our team: Brian Courtenay

and Harriet Nimmo.

Save the Elephants kindly awarded a grant to Ronny Makukule to visit Save the Elephants in Kenya

as a valuable learning experience and will be supporting him over the next two years as key member

of the Elephants Alive research team.

Jessica Wilmot was chosen to complete her MSc over the next two years at the Central European

University in Hungary.

Michelle Henley and Robin Cook completed a tree identification and ecology course with Prof.

Eugene Moll.

Elephants Alive collared seven additional elephants this year with the participation of the Young

Presidents Organisation and Michigan State University.

Dr. Carlos Lopes Pereira and Dr. Joao Simoes Almeida continue to offer invaluable support when the

collared elephants in Limpopo National Park, Mozambique move outside of protected areas.

Dr. Joao Simoes Almeida collared a bull for Elephants Alive to ensure that the study animal’s

movements can be followed back into Sabie Game Reserve in Mozambique.

Elephants Alive facilitated the donation of veterinary supplies to Dr. Carlos Lopes Pereira and Dr.

Joao Simoes Almeida through Project V.E.T.S., spearheaded by Claire Campbell, as longstanding

sponsor and supporter of Elephants Alive.

Elephants Alive was approached to translocate potential problem animals from Makalali Game

Reserve and Ingwelala for release elsewhere within the APNR in an attempt to ensure their safety.

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Table 4: Network of NPOs, Private or State Related Institutions, Local Communities, Academic collaborating bodies and Corporates, which form part of Elephants Alive’s extensive network. Those NPOs or Communities, which Elephants Alive (EA) financially supports, are underlined while those, which have financially supported EA, are in italics.

Institution/organisation Support Names

NPO (21)

Logistical & financial

Arc for Africa, Bly Sky Society, Conservation Action Trust, Black Mambas Anti-Poaching Unit, Bring the Elephant Home, Elephants And Bees Project, Elephant Crisis Fund, Elephant Specialist and Advisory Group of South Africa, EMS Foundation, Humane Society International, International Fund for Animal Welfare, Oak Foundation, PAMS Foundation, Peace Parks Foundation, Perfect World Foundation, SATIB Conservation Trust, Save the Elephants, Two Girls and an Elephant, Wildlife and Environmental Society of South Africa, Wild Shots Educational Outreach and Youth for African Wildlife.

Private or State based (11)

Logistical & financial

Foskor, Gonarezhou National Park (Zimbabwe), Great Letaba Ranch, Limpopo National Park (Mozambique), National Agency for Conservation Areas (Mozambique), Ndlopfu Game Reserve, Manyeleti Game Reserve, Palaborwa Mining Cooperation, South African National Parks, The Associated Private Nature Reserves and The Kruger National Park.

Community (4)

Sponsorship supplied Maseke-, Mashishimale, the local employed staff working within the Associated Private Nature Reserves - and the Makuleke Community

Academic (9 local)

(29 international)

Expertise/students Local: Agricultural Research Council, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Rhodes University, South African Environmental Observation Network, Tshwane University of Technology, University of Cape Town, University of Pretoria, University of South Africa and the University of the Witwatersrand.

International: Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, AgroSup Dijon, British Geological Survey, Central European University, Colorado State University, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, Edinburgh Napier University, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Hand Rearing Resource Centre, HAS University of Applied Sciences, Inholland University of Applied Sciences, Kansas State University, Liverpool John Moores University, National Engineering School of Agronomy, Toulouse, Oxford University, Princeton University, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Stanford University, Université de Neuchâtel, Switzerland, University of Cambridge, University of British Columbia, University of Hawaii , University of Hong Kong, University of Nottingham, University of Sussex, University of Texas, Wageningen University, Western Kentucky University and Wissenschaftkolleg Zu Berlin.

Corporate (30)

Expertise/Sponsorship/Exposure

African Wildlife Tracking, Allan Gray, Amarula, Anthony Lane Design, Ferocious Love Apparel, Bateleurs Wilderness Safaris, Camp Jabulani, Beautiful News, Imexsar SA, Intel, ISCA Technologies, Jaguar Land Rover South Africa, Khaki Fever, Kiss Me Organics, MeerendalWine Estate-BIGFEET Elephant Foundation, Relate, Return Africa, Riverleigh International Equestrian Centre, South African Breweries, Tanda Tula Safari Lodge, Toyota, Transfrontier Africa, Umlani Lodge, Wasteman Group, Wildcon Safaris and Events, Wilderness Safaris, Wildlifevets.com, Wild Spirit, Woolworths and Young Presidents Organisation.

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Scientific Papers since 2014

1. VOGEL, S.M., HENLEY, M.D., RODE, S.C., VAN DER VYVER, D., MEARES, K.F., SIMMONS, G. & DE BOER, W.F. 2014. Elephant (Loxodonta africana) impact on trees used by nesting vultures and raptors in South Africa. African Journal of Ecology 52: 1-8 doi: 10.11 11/aje.121 40.

2. MWAKIWA, E., HEARNE, J.W., STIGTER, J.D., DE BOER, W.F., HENLEY, M.D., SLOTOW, R. , VAN LANGEVELDE, F., PEEL, M., GRANT, C.C. & PRINS, H.H.T. 2015. Optimization of net returns from wildlife consumptive and non-consumptive uses by game reserve management. Environmental Conservation doi:10.1017/S0376892915000296

3. COOK, R.M,, HENLEY, M.D. & PARRINI, F. 2015. Elephant movement patterns in relation to human inhabitants in and around Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park. Koedoe. 57:1-7. doi: 10.4102/koedoe.v57i1.1298

4. DERHAM, K.S., HENLEY, M.D. & SCHULTE, B.A. 2016. Wire netting reduces African elephant (Loxodonta africana) impact to selected trees in South Africa. Koedoe 58: 1-7. doi: 10.4102/koedoe.v58i1.1327.

5. SELIER, J., HENLEY, M.D., PRETORIUS, Y. & GARAI, M. 2016. A Conservation Assessment of Loxodonta africana. In: Child MF, Roxburgh L, Do Linh San E,Raimondo D, Davies-Mostert HT ediotors, The Red List of Mammals of South Africa, Swaziland and Lesotho. South African National Biodiversity Institute and Endangered Wildlife Trust, South Africa.

6. BUNNEY, K., BOND, W & HENLEY, M.D. 2017. Elephantine carriers: the seed dispersal kernel of the African savanna elephant. Biotropica. Biotropica DOI:10.1111/btp.12423

7. EDGE, A., HENLEY, M.D., DADAY, J. & SCHULTE B.A. 2017. Examining human perception of elephants and large trees for insights into conservation of an African savanna ecosystem. Human Dimensions of Wildlife Journal. DOI: 10.1080/10871209.2017.1298168

8. COOK, R.M., WITKOWSKI, E.T.F., HELM, C.V., HENLEY, M.D. & PARRINI, F. 2017. Recent exposure to African elephants after a century of exclusion: Rapid accumulation of marula tree impact and mortality, and poor regeneration. Forest Ecology and Management: 401:107-116. DOI:10.1016/j.foreco.2017.07.006

9. COOK, R.M., PARRINI, F., KING, L.E., WITKOWSKI, E.T.F. & HENLEY, M.D. 2018. African honeybees as a mitigation method for elephant impact on large trees. Biological Conservation 217: 329-336. DIO: 10.1016/j.biocon.2017.11.024

10. WRIGHT, M. G., SPENCER, C., COOK, R. M., HENLEY, M. D., NORTH, W. & MAFRA-NETO, A. 2018. African bush elephants respond to a honeybee alarm pheromone. Current Biology 28: R778-R780. doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2018.06.008

11. JUDITH T. WEBBER, J.T., HENLEY, M.D., PRETORIUS Y., SOMERS, M.J. & GANDSWINDT, A. 2018. Changes in African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) faecal steroid concentrations post-defaecation. Bothalia 48: 2. a2312: DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/abc.v48i2.2312

12. BLACK, C.E., MUMBY, H.S. & HENLEY, M.D. In review. Mining morphometrics from survey photographs: a case study on African elephants.

13. SANTOS, T.L., FERNANDES, C., HENLEY, M.D., DAWSON, D.A. & MUMBY, H.S. In Review. Assessing the genetic status of a savannah elephant (Loxodonta Africana) population in the Greater Kruger Biosphere, South Africa.

14. HENLEY, M.D. & COOK, R.M. In Review. The management dilemma: removing elephants to save large trees.

15. WALL, J., WITTEMYER, G., KLINKENBERG, B., LEMAY, V., BLAKE, S., STRINDBERG, S., HENLEY, M.D., VOLLRATH, F. & DOUGLAS-HAMILTON, I. In Review. A Pan-African analysis of elephant movement indicates human activity is the key factor structuring ranging behaviour.

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16. VOGEL, S.M., DE BOER, W.F., MASEKE, M., SONGHURST, A., MCCULLOCH, G., STRONZA, A., HENLEY, M.D. & COULSON, T. In review. Do African savannah elephants (Loxodonta africana) eat crops because they crave micronutrients?

17. MURPHY, D., WITTEMYER, G., HENLEY, M.D. & MUMBY, H.S. In Review. Detection of community structure using biased and incomplete data.

Manuals

Cook, R. M., King, L. E. & Henley, M. D. 2018. Elephants, Bees & Trees - Project Manual. Media articles

Organisation in the spotlight: Elephants Alive! http://leadsa.co.za/articles/274112/organisation-in-the-

spotlight-elephenatd-alive

Wildcard Magazine: Inside the Science of Tracking Elephants: https://www.wildcard.co.za/inside-science-

tracking-elephants/

Elephants Alive Studying Kruger’s elephants for 20 years! http://elephantsalive.org/wp-

content/uploads/2018/05/Elephant-project-SP.pdf

A Honey-Pot Scare Saves Crops and Trees: Meet the Bees Vs. the Elephants - The Jersey tomato press

(http://thejerseytomatopress.com/stories/a-honey-pot-scare-saves-crops-and-trees-meet-the-

bees-vs-the-elephants,19233)

Africa's Largest Mammal Is Terrified of This Tiny Insect - Live Science

(https://www.livescience.com/63177-honeybee-pheromones-repel-elephants.html)

Beehives were introduced to protect Marula trees - Southerns Beekeeping Association

(http://beekeepers.co.za/beehives-introduced-protect-marula-trees/)

Bees for trees: testing a potential tool for reducing human-elephant conflict - Mongabay

(https://news.mongabay.com/wildtech/2017/12/bees-for-trees-testing-a-tool-for-reducing-

human-elephant-conflict/)

Bees protect large trees from elephant impact - Africa Geographic

(https://africageographic.com/blog/bees-protect-large-trees-elephant-impact/)

Bees to Protect Trees in Kruger, South Africa - Elephants & Bees Project

(http://elephantsandbees.com/bees-to-protect-trees-in-kruger-south-africa/)

Bees, trees and elephants - Klaserie Chronicle (https://www.ecochildren.co.za/resources/klaserie-

chronicle/41-klaserie-chronicle-no-44-june-2018/file)

Bees, Trees, & Elephants - Mike Kendrick Exposure (https://mikekendrick.exposure.co/bees-trees-and-

elephants)

30

Bees used to protect marula trees from elephants - Saturday Star (https://www.iol.co.za/saturday-

star/news/bees-used-to-protect-marula-trees-from-elephants-11337972)

Boffins discover how to repel Kruger elephants with bee-scented socks - Sunday Times

(https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/lifestyle/2018-07-24-boffins-discover-how-to-repel-

kruger-elephants-with-bee-scented-socks/)

Did you know? Bee scent could repel elephants, prevent conflict with humans - Lifestyle Magazine

(https://www.capitalfm.co.ke/lifestyle/2018/07/25/did-you-know-bee-scent-could-repel-

elephants-prevent-conflict-with-humans/)

Eco-interns show how bees can protect trees from elephants - Lowvelder

(https://lowvelder.co.za/349819/eco-interns-show-how-bees-can-protect-trees-from-elephants/)

VIDEO: Elephants get buzzed for trees - Beautiful News (https://www.beautifulnews.co.za/stories/ronnie-

makukule)

Elephants, marula and honey bees - Kruger 2 Canyon

(http://www.kruger2canyon.co.za/articles/news/31909/2015-07-03/elephants-marula-and-

honey-bees)

VIDEO: Elephants told to buzz off in South Africa national park - EuroNews

(http://www.euronews.com/2016/03/07/elephants-told-to-buzz-off-in-south-africa-national-park)

Honeybee pheromones safely repel elephants, study finds - Phys.org (https://phys.org/news/2018-07-

honeybee-pheromones-safely-repel-elephants_1.html)

Honey Bee Alarm Signal Could Protect Elephants - Scientific America

(https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/honey-bee-alarm-signal-could-protect-

elephants/)

Honeybees could be key to stopping destructive elephants - Sunday Times

(https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/news/2015-09-27-honeybees-could-be-key-to-

stopping-destructive-elephants/)

Honey bees could be sounding the alarm that protects nature and elephants - Sunday Times

(https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2018-07-25-honey-bees-could-be-sounding-the-

alarm-that-protects-nature-and-elephants/)

Human-Elephant Conflict and the use of Honeybees: A South African’s Perspective in Sri Lanka - Elephants

& Bees Project (http://elephantsandbees.com/human-elephant-conflict-and-the-use-of-

honeybees-a-south-africans-perspective-in-sri-lanka/)

31

In South Africa, bees protect indigenous trees from elephants - TRT World

(https://www.trtworld.com/life/in-south-africa-bees-protect-indigenous-trees-from-elephants-

13585)

In South Africa, bees stop elephants from trampling trees - Fox News

(http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/12/24/in-south-africa-bees-stop-elephants-from-

trampling-trees.html)

Mammoth news: Bees help plants - Annals of Botany

(https://academic.oup.com/aob/article/121/4/iv/4935238)

Niemand wil op die slurp gesteek - Netwerk 24 (https://www.netwerk24.com/Nuus/Omgewing/niemand-

wil-op-die-slurp-gesteek-word-20160206)

On the frontlines of human-elephant conflict with Robin Cook, Elephants Alive - Conservation Careers

(https://www.conservation-careers.com/conservation-jobs-careers-advice/frontlines-human-

elephant-conflict-robin-cook-elephants-alive/)

PICS: Bees stop elephants from trampling trees in SA - Traveller24

(https://www.traveller24.com/Explore/Green/pics-bees-stop-elephants-from-trampling-trees-in-

sa-20171227)

Smell of Angry Bees Scares Elephants Away From Crops - Discovery Magazine

(http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/2018/07/23/smell-of-angry-bees-scares-elephants-

away-from-crop-fields/#.W2ghwdIzbIU)

The best defence is a good bee-fence - Mongabay (https://wildtech.mongabay.com/2015/09/pushing-

the-boundaries/)

The elephants and the bees - Mango Airlines (http://elephantsalive.org/wp-

content/uploads/2017/11/The-Elephants-and-the-Bees_pdfCombined.pdf)

VIDEO: Tiny bees buzz to the rescue as elephants wreak havoc - DW-TV (https://www.dw.com/en/tiny-

bees-buzz-to-the-rescue-as-elephants-wreak-havoc/a-44287843)

Using bees to protect elephants - Daily Planet

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=130&v=6mA1Yl7LEZ4)

Using honey bees to protect one of Africa’s best-selling liqueurs - Quartz Africa

(https://qz.com/africa/1141208/using-honey-bees-to-protect-one-of-africas-best-selling-

liqueurs/)

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Why the Kruger Park enlisted bees to protect its trees from marauding elephants - News24

(https://www.news24.com/Green/News/watch-south-africa-the-bees-and-the-elephants-

20180622)

Wild about elephants - Bags4Goods (http://bags4good.org.za/wild-about-elephants-3)

Photo: Michelle Henley

33

FINANCES

Elephants Alive relies on donations and grants to run their operations. We are a South African registered

Public Benefit organisation. All grants and earmarked donations are used on the intended projects as per

the application budget.

ANALYSIS OF EXPENDITURE 2017

STATEMENT OF REVENUE & EXPENSES 2017

REVENUE ZAR USD

Donations, Grants, Sundry Inc 5 608 690 424 258

Interest Earned 180 109 13 624

TOTAL REVENUE 5 788 799 437 882

EXPENSES

Programme Grants & Services 3 517 158 266 048

Administration Logistics & Governance 664 158 50 239

Marketing, fundraising and Public relations 370 212 28 004

TOTAL EXPENSES 4 551 528 344 291

ACCOUNTS CONVERTED AT A RATE OF $1 = R13.22

Unaudited figures for 2017 are presented here. At the end of 2017 Elephants Alive held R 3 206 606

($242 557) in reserves due to longer term grants not yet expended.

15%

77%

8%

Administration, logistics & Governance

Research and Protection

Marketing, fundraising and Public relations

34

SPONSORS AND PARTNERS

Our work would not have been possible without the continued support coming from numerous organisations and individuals. In particular, we would like to thank the following organisations for either

their long-term support or their considerable investment in our achievements: Oak Foundation

Save the Elephants US Fish and Wildlife Services

Sponsorship Organisations for 2017/2018:

Bull Elephant Network Project Caparol

EMS Foundation Ferocious Love Apparel

Kiss Me Organics Louis Stewart Foundation

Maria Nila Meerendal Wine Estate – BIGFEET Elephant Foundation

Mike McMillan Foundation Ndlopfu

PAMS Foundation Perfect World

Relate SATIB Conservation Trust

Safari Giants Transfrontier Africa

Woolworths Wildlifevets

Young Presidents Organisation

Individual donors: Alicia Amy Wingrave Sella

Brian & Claire Makare Carla Geyser

Dex Kotze Francis Garrard

Ian McMillan Kim Stewart

Madeleine Delman Mark & Jacqui Atkinson

Michele Thomson Peter Smelting Ralf Murjahn

Reimund Kuehn Rudolph Mohs

We would like to thank the management of the Association of Private Nature Reserves, South African National Parks, and Administracao Nacional de Areas de Conservacao (ANAC) in Mozambique for their continued support and permissions for the research to be conducted within their respective Reserves

A very big THANK YOU to you all!

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Conceptual model: M Henley; Design: ©Cheng-Hao Hsieh

36

STAFF COLLAGE

Director, Co-Founder & Principal Researcher: Dr. Michelle Henley; Tracking Projects Manager: Anka Bedetti de Kock; Big Trees Projects Manager: Robin Cook;

ID study Projects Manager: Dr. Julie Kern; Development Manager: Harriet Nimmo; Researcher & Logistics Liason Officer: Jessica Wilmot; Researcher & Bee Project- and Education Liason officer: Ronny Makukule;

Researcher & Elephant Mortalities Liason Officer: Tammy Eggeling; Assistant & Photographer: Tamsin Lotter.

‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together’ African Proverb

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ACTIVITY COLLAGE

‘If you know wilderness in the way that you know love, you would be unwilling to let it go…this is the story of our past and it will be the story of our future’

Terry Tempest Williams