87 confirming that Sentinel 2A imagery can be used to visualize vegetation species distribution. “We’ve been able to overlay elephant tracking data that was collected with a handheld GPS, and we can see that wild African bulls walk a particular path for a specific plant they love eating. Family groups will walk paths that lead to plants that females and young calves prefer. When they move together, they walk paths that ensure there’s something for everyone,” she said. Remote sensing expands research possibilities because officers don’t have to be on-site to collect data. Ihwagi and Mugo see its application as a promising way to understand the nuances of elephant behavior continent-wide. Paired with GIS, it gets them one step closer to realizing their dreams of seeing Africa’s elephants repopulated and understood as a crucial species of the continent’s biodiversity. The communities, people, governments, and stakeholders who are involved in trying to protect these elephants need to visually see data and information, which is something we can’t do without GIS. It helps us get to a point where we have a higher understanding of all the systems that are interconnected. — Gloria Mugo, GIS officer and remote sensing scientist with the Elephants and Bees Project Conservation Monitoring beehive fences, which safeguard crops and elephants, now incorporates a digital workflow, saving time and improving awareness. Image by Naiya Raja, courtesy of Save the Elephants. Beehive fence monitoring with pen and paper needed to be digitized back in the office. Photo by Derick Wanjala, courtesy of Save the Elephants.
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