Collaring for Conservation: How GRI is Safeguarding Zambia’s Elephants

Just before dawn, the air around Kafue National Park felt charged with quiet excitement. Vehicles hummed awake, radios buzzed between teams, and the first streaks of light stretched across the bush. Thanks to the dedication of our field partners, Game Rangers International (GRI), and the NGO’s African Parks, the Department of National Parks, and Wildlife (DNPW), five very special elephants were about to take another important step on their journey back to the wild.

With the helicopter blades still turning, the collaring team steps into action. Kasi Kalande (Senior Research Officer), Maison Chukka (Animal Welfare Supervisor) with Brad Reid (African Parks Pilot).

Some of these elephants are already roaming freely. Others are only just beginning to imagine what independence might look like. But the goal was the same for each one: to fit or replace a GPS tracking collar that will help keep them safe as they continue learning how to be wild elephants again.

These collars don’t confine them. They guide us, so that we can quietly watch over them from afar and make sure their new freedom is as safe as possible.

Why Tracking is so Important for Young, Released Elephants

When an elephant is released, their world opens up. Suddenly they have space to explore, new herds to meet, and unfamiliar landscapes to navigate. With satellite collars, our partners can follow their movements in real time, learning how they adapt, where they like to travel, and when they might need extra protection.

Monitoring elephants in real time — Martin Lumande tracks orphan herds as they navigate their new wild lives.

The information collected from these collars helps conservationists understand:

How young elephants settle into wild herds
Which routes they naturally choose and why
Where potential conflict with people might arise
How we can better protect the landscapes they depend on

“Each collar helps us understand how elephants adapt, where they travel, and how we can keep them safe.” — Martin Lumande, GRI Research Assistant – Post Release Monitoring.

Rufunsa: A Fully Wild Elephant’s Collar Refitting

Age 17, stage 6 – Free Roaming Independent. Now fully integrated into the wild, Rufunsa continues to thrive, demonstrating strong adaptation and independence.

Rufunsa, now an impressive 17-year-old bull, has completely embraced life in the wild. Finding him meant flying deep into the rugged Mulobezi Game Management Area, a place only a helicopter can reach. He has grown fast since being released, and his old collar had become too tight.

With incredible coordination, the field team darted him from the air, landed moments later, and gently replaced his collar with one that will grow with him. He slept peacefully while the team worked, and before long, Rufunsa was back on his feet, heading off confidently into the bush as though nothing had happened.

DNPW Vet Dr. Jonathan Sinyinza conducting the final checks along with GRI Senior Research Assistant Kasi Kalande.

Mphamvu: A Young Bull Finding His Way in the World

Mphamvu, whose name means strength, is living up to it. Now 12, he spends most of his time with a familiar, protective herd, but he has also taken bold solo adventures into neighbouring areas. Understanding these movements is key for safeguarding elephants and people.

Collar being carefully fitted to ensure safety and comfort, allowing the elephant to move naturally while transmitting vital location data.

Once Mphamvu was safely darted from the helicopter, the team fitted his new collar and carried out a full health check. His condition was excellent, and after waking, he strode back into the mopane scrub, likely searching for his closest companions.

Health checks being conducted and samples collected.

Mulisani: A Social Elephant Who Helps us Learn

Mulisani, at just over ten years old, is thriving. He is deeply bonded with other elephants and fits naturally into the wild herd’s social world. His previous collar had stopped transmitting, so refitting it was important to keep learning from him.

His operation happened close to the release centre, bringing together a large team who worked with calm confidence. Within minutes, Mulisani was collared, assessed, awake, and wandering off as though he had simply taken a brief nap among friends.

DNPW Vet Dr. Jonathan Sinyinza administers the reversal.

Two Elephants Almost Ready for Release: Nkala & Lani

Nkala (12) and Lani (8) are still spending nights in the safety of the boma, but their independence is growing every day. Soon, both will begin taking their first real steps into freedom, exploring a world they have only glimpsed from the boundaries of the release facility.

Nkala, age 12 years 6 months, stage 3 – Release Facility (still in the safety of the fenced boma at night).

Fitting them with collars now means their earliest journeys can be safely monitored. Those first weeks after release are full of excitement and discovery, but also risk. With their collars in place, the team can make sure they remain safe, healthy, and confident.

Every effort is made to minimise stress for the elephants, welfare is always paramount

Both operations were gentle and carefully timed as the elephants returned from their daily walk. When they woke, they calmly reunited with their herd, two young elephants one step closer to the wild lives they deserve.

“This was a very successful operation that required dedication and teamwork. There was a high level of coordination and cooperation among the team which enabled us to complete the task within the scheduled time.” — Martin Lumande: Post-release monitoring Research Assistant

Teamwork, Skill & Heart

Collaring elephants is physically demanding, emotionally intense, and requires unwavering teamwork. Pilots, vets, rangers, and keepers must move with absolute precision around a sleeping but still powerful wild animal. They do this work because each elephant represents years of care, dedication, and hope.

Successfully collaring five elephants in one day is an extraordinary achievement, and a powerful reminder of what skilled, compassionate conservation looks like.

Rangers and vets secure and fit a GPS collar — a physically demanding and time-critical task that enables safe monitoring of elephant movements.

This Work is Only Possible Because of You

Behind every successful collaring operation stands an extraordinary network of field partners, charities, and NGOs — but it’s your support that makes their work possible and keeps these elephants safe.

Every collar fitted…

Every step an elephant takes into freedom…

Every moment we can protect them…

All of it is made possible by people like you.

Want to Dive Deeper into this Story?

Our field partners at GRI have shared their own detailed account of this collaring operation.

We encourage you to read their version too, as it offers powerful on-the-ground insights from the people who know these elephants best.

Read GRI blog

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Linda Rorbye