It’s an ideal location for this small team of experts, as the boundaries of Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe all meet here along the Chobe and Zambezi rivers.

Meet the people
Dr Mike Chase was born and raised in Botswana and is Programme Director of EWB. After graduating from the University of Natal, he returned to his native country and spent eight years implementing projects for Conservation International. Dr Chase founded EWB in 2003, and has recently completed his PhD on the ‘home ranges and transboundary movements of elephants in northern Botswana’.

Kelly Landen is programme manager of EWB. She was raised in the United States, but has a wealth of conservation experience from around the globe. She is a licensed marine captain, and has worked aboard oceanographic research vessels. Kelly participates in all aspects of EWB operations, including field work and aerial observation. Her passion for the wildlife and the people of Africa shines through.

Thanda Nkala is the field officer of EWB, where his instinctive knowledge of elephant behaviour is invaluable. A citizen of Zimbabwe, he speaks eight languages, and has worked among elephants all his life. Thanda has been a specialist game tracker in northern Botswana for five years. Among his many roles, he is the team’s primary aerial observer.

What does the organisation do?
Elephants in this region compete with humans for food, water and living space. Consequently, their historical ranges are fragmented and compressed. Dr Chase’s vision is to use research and education to open national borders for Africa’s elephants, so that future generations can share their lives with these great giants.

EWB monitors the movements and behaviour of elephants using state-of-the-art technology. Satellite collars are deployed to see how the herds move through the landscape and to identify their critical habitats.

This information is then shared with governments and local communities working together to safeguard the elephants’ key habitats and migratory corridors. EWB also advises the private sector, researchers, journalists and film-makers (including the BBC).

Since 2003 the team has successfully collared and tracked over 30 elephants. It is a natural solution to complex conservation issues, allowing the elephants themselves to show us the way.

'By saving the African elephant, we can save Africa’s wildlife, its habitat and its people. An Africa without elephants would have lost its soul.’ – Dr Mike Chase

What is the EWB doing for love earth?
In July and August 2007, the team fitted satellite collars to three elephants in northern Botswana for the love earth project. A bull was collared near the border with Namibia, and two females were collared in different parts of the Okavango Delta, including the pregnant matriarch Mma Khama.

By choosing elephants in different regions, the team hopes to follow different stories. Also, the two sexes have different lifestyles. Females remain in large family herds, but males prefer to roam alone or in small male groups.

Exactly where our elephants will go is unknown, but you can follow their progress on this website. There are maps, facts, photos and regular updates from EWB scientists in the field. This is real research, addressing real conservation issues.

Why track African elephants?
With over 150,000 individuals, northern Botswana is home to the largest elephant population in Africa. The recovery of this population is one of the most impressive conservation achievements of the last half century. But this success has brought other problems, as humans and elephants compete for limited resources.

Fences hundreds of kilometres long, agriculture and human settlement all restrict the movements of elephants across their historical ranges. Other obstacles include landmines and civil unrest in neighbouring countries. War and famine create poverty, which in turn fuels poaching for ivory.

Many of Botswana’s wetlands are shrinking, and less water also means less food. The summer drought puts extra pressure on permanent water sources. Some herds traverse 20km (each way) between food and water every day; others may risk drinking from farmers’ wells.

As both the human and elephant populations of northern Botswana grow, it is increasingly vital to identify and preserve migration corridors. By tracking elephants, EWB aims to secure a sustainable future for Africa’s flagship species.