Big Life: Using Data to Ensure Safe Wildlife Corridor Migration

Challenge:

Human population growth and expanded development in the Amboseli ecosystem has led to decreased habitat for elephants and other wildlife. In particular, development can cut off access between different wild spaces—increasing the risk for human wildlife conflict and potentially infringing on traditional migratory behavior.

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Resolution:

Big Life, a wildlife conservation advocacy group based in Kenya’s Amboseli ecosystem, has been investing to develop wildlife corridors that allow wildlife to move between protected areas. To ensure the corridors are maintained and to monitor how frequently wildlife are using them, Amboseli utilizes ranger reports, camera traps, and other technologies. Data from those technologies are consolidated in EarthRanger, where activity is then visualized on an intuitive map.

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Impact:

Using EarthRanger, Amboseli has monitored its wildlife corridors and ensured wildlife are passing through them successfully. In May 2019, Amboseli tracked the successful passage of a 31 year old male elephant, Jenga, through its Amboseli-Tsavo corridor. With the corridors in place and EarthRanger active, Amboseli is equipped to support safe, human conflict-free passage of wildlife between key preserves—a key component of a thriving wildlife population.

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