Tsavo Elephant Research https://www.tsavoelephants.org is the longest research project on elephant behavior in the Tsavo Conservation Area. The goals of the research are to protect the elephants and their habitat by collecting empirical data to assist in the formulation of management strategies. The research started in 1989 by identifying individual bulls and families with photographic data to monitor trends in behavioral ecology. This long-term non-interference research has studied elephant behavior at the individual and population level in four regions of the Tsavo Conservation Area: Tsavo East National Park, Tsavo West National Park, Taita Ranch and Rukinga Wildlife Sanctuary.
The majority of the elephant research is conducted in Tsavo East National Park, south of the Galana River (4,200 km2). The study area is a semi-arid environment with a historical average rainfall of 390 to 450 mm per year. The habitat is a mosaic of tree-bush, riverine, bush-grass and open grassland. Three rivers are in the study area: permanent Galana River and two seasonal rivers, Mbololo and Voi Rivers with intermittent surface water. Elephant dug-wells are scattered along both river beds during the dry season. Numerous seasonal natural soil-based waterholes and many provisional water points are dispersed throughout the study site. The water pipeline from Mzima Spring (Tsavo West) to Mombasa bisects the western region of Tsavo East, with numerous leaks creating small and large pools. Several electrical fences are along the National Park boundary and both sides of the SGR (train) western boundary with a few tunnels and bridges for elephants and other wildlife to move across park boundaries.
The research conducted in Tsavo West National Park (northern sector), focused on creating an individually recognized photographic log of elephants to monitor resources related to elephant habitat use, distribution, group size and composition. Specifically, to monitor Tsavo East known elephant boundary crossings between Tsavo East and West National Park.
The research conducted in Taita Ranch and Rukinga Wildlife Sanctuary (located in the southern region of TCA), investigated the status of elephant population by creating a photographic identification log of recognized bulls and families on privately owned land. Specifically, to monitor known elephant movement between Tsavo East National Park and the ranch and sanctuary.
In addition to research on elephant behavior, data are collected on the ecosystem including status of the habitat (fire, drought, invasive plants), water (rivers, natural waterholes, boreholes), wildlife (threatened, endangered, rare) and human activity (park encroachment, poaching, tourism). These data are required to conserve and protect the diverse Tsavo ecosystem. These data are maintained in a separate database from the elephant data.