Elephants & Mega-Herbivores: Strengthening Coexistence

At Loisaba Conservancy, elephants and other mega-herbivores are at the heart of our conservation mission. Through strong partnerships with Save the Elephants (STE) and the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (SDZWA), we continue to deepen our understanding of elephant populations across Loisaba and the wider Laikipia–Samburu landscape.

© Jamie Lucas

Expanding Knowledge Through Research and Monitoring

Between July and September, our monitoring teams recorded 167 elephants — including 41 family groups and 23 bulls — using a combination of direct observations and remote camera systems. Two Loisaba staff members also completed advanced field training with Save the Elephants in Samburu, building local capacity to sustain and expand this vital work.

Loisaba’s extensive camera grid of 38 monitoring units continues to capture invaluable data on elephants, giraffes, rhinos, and other large mammals. These long-term datasets not only track wildlife movement and behaviour but also feed directly into regional conservation planning that safeguards northern Kenya’s biodiversity.

© Jamie Lucas

Addressing Human–Elephant Conflict (HEC)

Beyond monitoring, Loisaba’s Conservation and Research Department, together with SDZWA and Naibunga Lower Community Conservancy, is tackling one of the region’s most pressing challenges: human–elephant conflict (HEC). In many pastoralist communities, people and elephants share access to water, pasture, and migration corridors — spaces where interactions can sometimes turn dangerous.

This year, nine community research assistants conducted 385 household interviews to better understand local experiences, perceptions, and priorities regarding elephants.The findings highlighted that children’s safety walking to school was the top community concern, followed by risks during grazing and daily chores. Yet, in a hopeful sign for the future, most respondents shared that peaceful coexistence with elephants is possible, and many expressed openness to new solutions that protect both people and wildlife.

Community-Led Solutions for Coexistence

In response, Loisaba and its partners have launched three community-led pilot interventions designed to reduce risk and strengthen coexistence:

• School Walking Groups – Organising children to walk in groups accompanied by trained parent volunteers for added safety.

• HEC Toolbox Training – Introducing practical deterrents and safety tools from Save the Elephants’ national coexistence programme to help households manage elephant interactions effectively.

• Elephant-Aware Behaviour Training – Blending traditional knowledge from elders with new safety lessons to help communities respond calmly and confidently when elephants are nearby.

© Jamie Lucas

A Shared Future for People and Wildlife

This collaborative approach — combining scientific research, community engagement, and regional partnerships — continues to strengthen conservation efforts across northern Kenya.Together, we are working towards a landscape where both people and elephants can thrive, ensuring that these iconic giants continue to roam freely across the wild spaces of Loisaba for generations to come.