COLLARING A MATRIACH

For #WorldElephantDay each year, we celebrate not only elephants but also the dedicated people and organizations working hard to protect them. Earlier this year, Wild Tomorrow Fund was able to sponsor the collaring of a matriach at Manyoni Private Game Reserve. Read more about our big day out helping our region’s elephants, and how this incredible moment unfolded on the ground, in our story below.

The female matriach at Manyoni Private Game Reserve, ‘waking up’ to her new collar.

By sheer size, elephants - the giants of the African savanna - may appear invulnerable, but unfortunately, we know that they’re not. African savanna elephant populations, found mostly in southern and eastern Africa, have declined by more than 60% in the last fifty years, largely due to habitat loss and poaching.

It’s vitally important to protect and monitor remaining populations of wild elephants. One way that wildlife reserves work to keep tabs on their elephants is by attaching collars to individual elephants for monitoring. Not every elephant can be collared, so how is this done? Often it is the female ‘matriach’ of the herd who is collared. Her collar essentially tracks the entire herd (the females) that follow her lead.

The big elephant-sized collars send GPS points to tracking devices, enabling remote monitoring of the elephant’s movement patterns, in turn enhancing reserve manager’s ability to understand how to better protect their elephant populations. Although it may not be the most glamorous work, it is critical for the research, monitoring and continued survival of elephant populations. 

The ground crew moves in to stabilize the elephant, while the helicopter flies overhead, looking out for her herd.

Our partner, Manyoni Private Game Reserve, needed to replace an old collar on one of their matriarchs after the battery had died after over three years of wear. With COVID still impacting tourism and wildlife reserves’ operating budgets, it is an expensive but necessary intervention. When Manyoni asked if we could help, we said yes without a second thought. With generous support from our friends at Elephant Cooperation we were delighted to fund this project for the region’s elephants and to enable this very important conservation exercise to go ahead.

“The Manyoni Private Game Reserve utilizes tracking collars to assist with the monitoring of priority species, elephant being one of them.” explained Dane Atrobus, Manyoni’s Wildlife Coordinator. “The primary goal behind Manyoni’s elephant monitoring is habitat utilization. Elephants are ecological engineers, the pros and cons of which [include] opening up bush encroached areas, allowing new growth and increasing available grazing, or toppling large trees of ecological value such as raptor nest sites. Elephants have large daily movement parameters, capable of walking over 50kms a day making them difficult to locate. The collar we deployed is a GSM/VHF which uses cellphone towers to transmit GPS coordinates at set intervals. This means more data for less man hours and ensures that we know where our priority species are so that we can collect valuable data as well as monitor social dynamics, injuries, snare detection and new calves being born.”

On May 12th, the team assembled at Manyoni Private Game Reserve. The endeavor was led by Reserve Manager Karen Odendaal and wildlife vet Dr. Mike Toft. Working hands on with the largest land animal is no simple task. One mistake could be detrimental to the animal or create a dangerous situation for the people involved. Everything has to be triple checked, and everyone has to know their role. Three of our very own Wild Tomorrow Fund rangers came to observe and learn: Siyabonga our head ranger, and Mhloli and Mzi. After the briefing and when everything was set, Dr. Mike joined Wildlife Coordinator, Dane and Heligistix pilot Jason Fischer in the helicopter to search for the herd while everyone else jumped into off-road vehicles. It was time for the hard work to begin.

From the helicopter, they soon spotted the herd to the north of the reserve. They relayed the location to the ground crew who took off toward it, ready for when they were needed. As the helicopter closed in on the herd, Jason used his skills in precision flying to separate the matriarch, giving Dr. Mike the opportunity to take aim and shoot the tranquilizer dart. It hit its mark and they hovered in the air waiting for the drugs to take effect. She came to rest in an open spot near the road where the hands on work began. Jason landed to let Dr. Mike out before returning to the sky, making rounds to ensure the rest of the herd didn’t come onto the scene as they looked for their matriarch.

Watch the ground crew rush in to the tranquilized elephant to stabilise her and begin fitting the new collar. Time is of the essence!

The ground crew moved in and joined Dr. Mike who was already stabilizing the elephant and making sure her trunk’s airway was unobstructed. Because of her enormous size, it took the entire team to shift her just slightly into a comfortable position. Keeping her body cool with water throughout the process, everyone worked swiftly and efficiently. Using hand tools, her old collar was removed and the new one was carefully fitted, making sure there was ample space for her to comfortably breath, without leaving so much space that it could rub and cause abrasions or even come off. With the collar fitted, the team ensured that the radio telemetry technology was working.

 In the midst of the intense focus of the moment, it is easy to lose yourself in the work. But when it hits you and you consider the awesome size, the powerful rhythmic breaths, and  the thick and worn, yet surprisingly soft skin, suddenly the work you’re doing feels that much more personal. It’s an incomparable experience, one that we were glad we could share with our three rangers. We know that they will always remember this very special encounter and all that they learned about elephants. Once our corridor, the Greater Ukuwela Nature Reserve is ‘open’ it will also be home to the giants of the savannah, and our rangers will be ready to welcome them and to tell their families and communities nearby about these incredible elephants and the need to protect them.

Wild Tomorrow Fund’s rangers Mzi, Mhloli and Siyabonga alongside the tranquilized matriach. For Mzi and Mhloli, it was the first time to be close to an elephant.“…It is a huge animal that needs heavy medicine to get it down…” said our head ranger, Siyabonga (far right).

Next, everyone returned to the safety of their vehicles so that Dr. Mike could administer the reversal drug. Just moments later the matriarch began to stir. With a few wobbles she got back on her feet, shook off the remaining effects of the tranquilizer and just like that, ran off to rejoin her herd. A small but significant success contributing greatly to the protection of Manyoni’s elephants here in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Watch the matriach rise to her feet, and then run to rejoin her herd.

This incredible collaring experience was filmed in 360° VR by our friends at HabitatXR (look for the unusual looking round camera in the video clips). We look forward to bringing our supporters and global audiences this experience to immerse themselves in virtually, to explore and feel what it feels like to be part of the collaring team. Stay tuned for details of our premiere screening!

Without help from generous partners like Elephant Cooperation and people like you, these conservation projects would not be possible. Only together could we that elephant, and only together can we save them. Thank you for your support of elephant conservation, creating a brighter, wilder future for wildlife in southern Africa.

“I used to see [elephants] far away, but today I have grown up because I have touched it with my hands” said Wild Tomorrow Fund ranger, Mzi.