Hwange elephants fitted with GPS collars to strengthen conservation efforts

Ivan Zhakata

Online Correspondent

Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has fitted eight elephants in Hwange National Park with GPS tracking collars under a joint initiative with the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) as part of efforts to improve monitoring and cross-border wildlife protection.

In a statement, ZimParks said the collaring exercise will enhance real-time tracking of elephant movements within and beyond the park’s boundaries.

“The collars will provide vital information on elephant movements and strengthen cross-border conservation efforts,” read the statement.

“Each collar acts as a research tool, providing a real-time map of the elephant’s journey. This essential data helps us safeguard their corridors and mitigate threats, ensuring the coexistence of people and wildlife.”

ZimParks said the tracking devices will support research on elephant migration routes, improve patrol planning and help identify areas prone to human–wildlife conflict.

The data is also expected to feed into regional cooperation under the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area, where elephants frequently traverse shared ecosystems.

The initiative is part of a broader strategy to use technology to protect Africa’s largest remaining elephant populations, which face threats from habitat loss and poaching.

ZimParks said the collaboration will continue as both organisations scale up monitoring efforts in Hwange and surrounding landscapes.