Beyond Borders. Solutions to Conserve Wildlife and Empower People. Year In Review: Research & Conservation with Elephants Without Borders

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1 Beyond Borders 2009 Year In Review: Research & Conservation with Elephants Without Borders Solutions to Conserve Wildlife and Empower People Inside this issue: Messages 2 Field Activities 3-6 Collars Deployed Aerial Surveys Special Projects Hosted Outreach & Awareness 7-9 Documentary film SDZ Partnership Promos State Partnership Program Publications 9 Thank you! 10

2 Page 2 A Message from the Director Dr. Mike Chase, founder of EWB, received his Phd from UMass. He prefers the name given to him by community members, Modise wwa di Tlou, elephant shepherd. The following pages pay testament to Elephants Without Borders conservation achievements in It proved to be a highly productive year. Our ongoing aerial survey and telemetry studies continue to provide critical information on the status of elephants. We also forged new alliances which are pivotal to our success. EWB s projects are generously funded by our valued supporters. I would especially like to express my appreciation to the San Diego Zoo for their continued assistance. Together with our other donors, 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 underway on our new field research camp. The site will include agricultural plots, which will be used to assess methods that work best to reduce elephant crop raiding and to train villagers in conservation farming methods. This is just one way EWB will help empower local communities to manage human wildlife conflicts. We will continue to expand our telemetry studies in the Kavango Zambezi TFCA and conduct important aerial surveys to determine the population status of elephants on the southern and western periphery of Botswana s range. EWB remains steadfast, the only NGO working throughout the TFCA on elephant 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 deserves. EWB Program Manager I am quite proud to be part of, what I believe is, one of the most exciting conservation programs and organizations 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 organizations, and securing tremendous support. Increasingly, we are contacted by other organizations, researchers, communities and governments who ask for our assistance, which is testimony to our ongoing achievements and success. However grateful, this is only the beginning, as we now turn to embark on new ventures, expanding our projects to create a visionary and practical approach to conservation. Considering the accelerating problems of environmental degradation and competition for natural resources, people need to start looking towards changing their outlook, activities, and methods of addressing these complex issues. We can no longer believe we can manage nature and the environment, rather it is us, ourselves, 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.

3 Page 3 Field Activities Collars Deployed and Removed Our telemetry study is unique, because it monitors 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 varied area. We share the information with appropriate authorities, communities and scientific community, to promote the conservation of African elephants and their natural habitats, while simultaneously mitigating Human Elephant Conflict (HEC). This year EWB successfully deployed nine elephant satellite collars. Six of these were placed on elephants in the Makgadikgadi and Kalahari ecosystems. 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 interaction 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, subsequently 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 acknowledge Dr. Leo Braack from Conservation Interna-

4 Page 4 If we can t help save the African elephant... tional for his support. We appreciate the assistance of Roger Parry of Wild Horizons Trust and Glynis Vaughan of ZNSPCA for their requests to partner with EWB to monitor elephant movements in Zimbabwe. 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 surveys were confined to the Kavango, Kwando, Linyanti, Chobe and Zambezi rivers and their associated wetlands and floodplains. Hippo and crocodile, floodplain ungulates including 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 nesting/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 conduct the first fixed-wing aerial census of the Chitabe 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

5 Page 5...then what hope do we have... Special Projects Hosted March: EWB worked with Animal Media Australia while filming their latest production, Elephant Wars, a two-part series that delves into the world of both Asian and African elephants. 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: 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 displayed at the zoo s new Elephant Odyssey exhibit and SDZ s web site. June: Dr. Chase was interviewed for a half hour documentary, Elefants im minenfield, Coplain ungulates, lechwe, reedbuck, and waterbuck; 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 ecosystem, and provide linkages and corridors for wildlife 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 independent wildlife research projects. This survey was commissioned and funded by Flamingo Investments. Further support was provided by AfriScreen Films and the San Diego Zoo.

6 Page 6 produced by ICUC Productions and Richred Productions 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 documentary is being edited for NHU (Natural History Unit, Africa.) Broadcast to be announced. July: EWB colleague, Dr. Ursula Bechert, from Oregon State University visited the project to finalize their collaborative efforts on stressresponse profiling of elephants and to discuss possibilities of further research together. August: EWB was proud to help the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF), led by principal investigator, Julian Fennessy, with their geneticsampling 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 collaborative partners from San Diego Zoo s Institute for Conservation Research. 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....for the rest of Africa s wildlife?

7 Page 7 Outreach and Awareness Documentary Film Elephants Without Borders, a documentary featuring the work of EWB, produced by Mike Holding 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 Kingdom, 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 international nature and wildlife film festival which presents 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 Mokaila, USA Ambassador Stephen J. Nolan, and Ambassadors to Namibia, Angola and Zambia. Elephants Without Borders is being presented to various communities through out Botswana and neighboring countries

8 Page 8 SDZ Partnership Promotions Vision: to ensure a prosperous and compatible... Mike Chase traveled to the United States to accompany the San Diego Zoo s (SDZ) public relations team for meetings with news media, magazines, radio shows, and travel companies in New York City and Washington DC to help advertise and promote Elephants Without Borders collaboration with the zoo and to contribute to the marketing 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 collection with those in the field. In May, Dr. Chase and Ms. Landen, returned to the San Diego Zoo to help contribute to the public relations and marketing campaign associated with the opening of the Elephant Odyssey exhibit through TV interviews, popular articles, newspaper 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. 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

9 Page 9...future between people and wildlife State Partnership Program August, Kelly Landen, was invited to speak in Raleigh, NC and participate in the State Partnership 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. Masire. 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 private 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 General McKinley s personal coin of excellence for Elephants Without Borders endeavors. Publications & Reports Chase, M.J. and Griffin, C Seasonal abundance and distribution of Elephants in Sioma Ngwezi National Park, southwest Zambia. Pachyderm. Chase, M.J. and Landen, K 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 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: Chase, M.J Elephant Social Dynamics, Spatial Ecology and Human Elephant Conflict in the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans and Kalahari Ecosystems, August Report. Chase, M.J Fixed-wing Aerial Census of the Chitabe Concession (NG31) Okavango Delta, Botswana. Oct Report. Carmignani K. 2009, Jumbo Conservation Project Serves Creatures Large and Small, May 2009, ZooNooz Pfotenhauer, L Elephants Without Borders Film review Peolwane magazine Publications can be downloaded at Visit our blogs of stories and news at elephantswithoutborders.org/blog

10 Thank you for Your Support! 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. Donations received Organizations Zoological Society of San Diego Mutual & Federal Insurance Co., Botswana, Ltd The Seattle Foundation Chris Hamilton & ChakariNet Public The Rockefeller Family Larry and Patty Malashock Bester Family and Claire Kaechelhofer 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 Film Premier Sponsors 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 Wildlife 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 P.O. Box 682, Kasane, Botswana Tel/Fax: info@elephantswithoutborders.org