In order to retrieve the already stored data from the GPS 2000 collars, the elephant has to be darted to get the collar off. Thirdly, 4 elephants have GPS 1000 collars. To retrieve the data off these collars, we approach the elephant within close range after a strong signal of the collar is found. The information is then downloaded on to a computer. Fourthly, the Televilt collars are programmed to report at specific days of the week and at a certain time.
These collars are more demanding, however, when working properly, we are able to obtain the best results from them. Lastly, the South African collars are more advanced than the other collars. The information from these can be downloaded through the internet. Uffe is a twenty-five year old bull within the Samburu population. We have known him for the last three years. We have always believed that young bulls travel a great distance compared to the older bulls, who have already established their preferred territories.
Earlier this year, Henrik Rasmussen, an STE researcher, developed an interest in Uffe. He wanted to know where the young bull travels to during the wet and dry seasons. Henrik suggested collaring Uffe and he now has a Televilt collar, which reports every Friday at 11:00 am. On this occasion, Uffe was to be downloaded, however he was nowhere to be seen in Samburu and Buffalo Springs National Reserves. Dr Iain Douglas-Hamilton flew to try to locate him. He finally found him in the escarpment near Maralal. After a week, we needed to download Uffe again, however we were unable to locate him after flying over the escarpment. We had a feeling that Uffe may be at Tale Hill, as several of our collared bulls had been spending time in this area.
On the 18th of July, we left STE camp at 4:00 a.m. towards Tale Hill. Tale is located near some Samburu manyattas. We arrived at 7:00 a.m. Later, Iain flew over the area around the hill and tried to locate the bull, but with no success. It was a shame to miss the download for the third time. We proceeded to the villages to try asking the local people about the elephant migration routes. We went straight to the chief’s homestead, but he was not available so we headed for the councilor’s home. We learned that apart from Uffe, whom we were almost sure was there, Kenyatta was in the area as well. We also learnt that he had been seen fighting with another unknown bull. It was easy for the local Samburu people to identify him because he is “a big tuskless bull with a green belt on his neck!” We were shown the place where the bulls had been seen fighting.
We assumed it to be a big fight as the vegetation around the area was completely trampled upon. We were also taken to the place where they were seen drinking. We saw a long route that connects Samburu and Laikipia which passes between the settlements. We gave the local people a short talk about elephants, and they also provided us with some invaluable information of elephant movement in the area. We drove back to Samburu the same day. Although we had missed downloading Uffe, we were happy to have spent time with the local Samburu people living in the Ol Donyo Ngiro area, near Tale Hill. The local Samburu people will always have some good stories about wildlife in general and we are highly appreciative of the valuable information that we got from them