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Using Drones To Monitor the Health of Endangered Elephants (2024-2025)

Monitoring elephants is essential to understand current and rising challenges to their survival and determine conservation strategies in a changing environment. Drones (unmanned aircraft systems) provide a noninvasive, time-efficient and cost-effective solution to create monitoring programs of elephants that can be coupled with long-term movement datasets. 

This project integrated existing satellite collars and elephant movement data with advances in technology, including drones and camera traps, to evaluate elephant movements and body condition in Kafue National Park (KNP), Zambia. Two critical aspects of the project were the development of drone technology and analysis tools, as well as fieldwork and data collection.

This project was divided into three subteams. The first team developed data analysis methods and built a drone with a very high frequency (VHF) receptor. A second team focused on elephant spatial data, examining differences between activity patterns and habitat use of orphan and wild elephants. The third team focused on photogrammetry, processing drone images and camera trap photos to evaluate elephants’ body condition.

Team members collaborated with conservationists and researchers in Zambia to refine research questions, improve methods and meet stakeholder needs. Some students traveled to Zambia to test the VHF drone and collect body condition data. A team of students used finalized methods and technology to collect more data on elephant habitat using VHF and photogrammetry drones, as well as camera traps.

An important component of the team’s learning involved evaluating the ethical considerations of working in an international setting and developing decolonized research practices. Team members participated in a monthly speaker series with experts who explored decolonizing ecology and research frameworks, and worked to develop best practices that the team put into action in their own fieldwork.

Timing

Summer 2024 – Spring 2025

Team Outputs

Manuscripts

Development of a drone with a VHF receptor

Development of long-term, noninvasive elephant monitoring techniques and a comparative body condition dataset

Handbook on conducting decolonized international research and best practices for responsible use of new technologies

 

Image: South Luangwa National Park, Zambia, by Benoît Rivard, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Team Leaders

  • Martin Brooke, Pratt School of Engineering: Electrical & Computer Engineering
  • Nicolette Cagle, Nicholas School of the Environment, Nicholas School of the Environment: Environmental Sciences and Policy
  • David Johnston, Nicholas School of the Environment: Marine Science and Conservation
  • Halina Malinowski, Nicholas School of the Environment–Ph.D. Student
  • Sarah Roberts, Sanford School of Public Policy and Nicholas School of the Environment

Graduate Team Members

  • Vicky Fong, Coastal & Marine Systems (Env); Envrn Analytics & Mdlng (Mgmt)
  • Caroline Rowley, Environ Science & Conservation; Environment-PHD
  • Emily Siegel, Terrestrial & Freshwater (Env); Envrn Economics & Policy (Mgmt)
  • Jessica Stubbs, Terrestrial & Freshwater (Env); Business & Environment (Mgmt)
  • Asreeta Ushasri, Energy and Environment (Env); Envrn Analytics & Mdlng (Mgmt)
  • Rachel Weaver, Terrestrial & Freshwater (Env); Envrn Economics & Policy (Mgmt)

Undergraduate Team Members

  • Claire Andreasen, Electrical & Computer Egr(BSE); Physics (AB2)
  • Aditya Baliga, Biology (BS)
  • Tony Cao, Mathematics (BS); Computer Science (BS2)
  • Yuchen Chen, Biology (BS)
  • Ryan Christ, Mechanical Engineering (BSE); Computer Science (BS2)
  • Nicole Read, Biology (BS); Earth & Climate Sciences (BS2)

Team Contributors

  • Josh Matheson, Nicholas School of the Environment: Marine Science and Conservation
  • Lisa Olivier, Game Rangers International - Head of Research - Conservation Behavior Advisor

Themes