Joyce Poole: The Elephant Network | Nat Geo Live

today I’ve been asked to envision a

today I’ve been asked to envision a better tomorrow for elephants at a time

better tomorrow for elephants at a time

better tomorrow for elephants at a time when their future prospects are well

when their future prospects are well

when their future prospects are well really couldn’t could hardly be grimmer

really couldn’t could hardly be grimmer

really couldn’t could hardly be grimmer the ivory trade is raging out of control

the ivory trade is raging out of control

the ivory trade is raging out of control habitat loss is in freefall and human

habitat loss is in freefall and human

habitat loss is in freefall and human human elephant conflict continues

human elephant conflict continues

human elephant conflict continues unabated and with trade in wildlife

unabated and with trade in wildlife

unabated and with trade in wildlife products valued at something between 10

products valued at something between 10

products valued at something between 10 and 20 billion dollars a year elephants

and 20 billion dollars a year elephants

and 20 billion dollars a year elephants are just one of the better-known

are just one of the better-known

are just one of the better-known casualties so are there any rays of hope

casualties so are there any rays of hope

casualties so are there any rays of hope well I think so as examples in the

well I think so as examples in the

well I think so as examples in the northern rangelands of Kenya in the

northern rangelands of Kenya in the

northern rangelands of Kenya in the Masai Mara and in Amboseli just in the

Masai Mara and in Amboseli just in the

Masai Mara and in Amboseli just in the last couple of months they’ve been signs

last couple of months they’ve been signs

last couple of months they’ve been signs that poaching is abating and what each

that poaching is abating and what each

that poaching is abating and what each of these positive stories has at their

of these positive stories has at their

of these positive stories has at their core are people working together with a

core are people working together with a

core are people working together with a heartfelt connection for the animals

heartfelt connection for the animals

heartfelt connection for the animals that they’re protecting so only time

that they’re protecting so only time

that they’re protecting so only time will tell whether this fragile trend is

will tell whether this fragile trend is

will tell whether this fragile trend is going to hold and with Chinese demand

going to hold and with Chinese demand

going to hold and with Chinese demand for ivory soaring we really are up

for ivory soaring we really are up

for ivory soaring we really are up against formidable odds

against formidable odds

against formidable odds I’ve studied elephants and worked for

I’ve studied elephants and worked for

I’ve studied elephants and worked for their conservation and Welfare for close

their conservation and Welfare for close

their conservation and Welfare for close to four decades and so much has changed

to four decades and so much has changed

to four decades and so much has changed during that time in the early days in

during that time in the early days in

during that time in the early days in the in the mid 1970s in Amboseli we

the in the mid 1970s in Amboseli we

the in the mid 1970s in Amboseli we pioneered monitoring the life histories

pioneered monitoring the life histories

pioneered monitoring the life histories of elephants in the old-fashioned way

of elephants in the old-fashioned way

of elephants in the old-fashioned way using a few of us out following the

using a few of us out following the

using a few of us out following the elephants with ID cards and Penan and

elephants with ID cards and Penan and

elephants with ID cards and Penan and and paper and over the years through

and paper and over the years through

and paper and over the years through films through books we popularized the

films through books we popularized the

films through books we popularized the life stories of elephants the likes of

life stories of elephants the likes of

life stories of elephants the likes of echo here became household names and

echo here became household names and

echo here became household names and elephants were no longer merely objects

elephants were no longer merely objects

elephants were no longer merely objects but they were character

but they were character

but they were character with whom we could relate our research

with whom we could relate our research

with whom we could relate our research assistants Nora soy la Couture were

assistants Nora soy la Couture were

assistants Nora soy la Couture were women from the local community and today

women from the local community and today

women from the local community and today they are internationally recognized

they are internationally recognized

they are internationally recognized elephant champions and average Kenyans

elephant champions and average Kenyans

elephant champions and average Kenyans now are actively engaged in elephant

now are actively engaged in elephant

now are actively engaged in elephant conservation they’re protesting the

conservation they’re protesting the

conservation they’re protesting the destruction of elephants writing

destruction of elephants writing

destruction of elephants writing scientific papers working in the field

scientific papers working in the field

scientific papers working in the field and voicing their concerns on Facebook

and voicing their concerns on Facebook

and voicing their concerns on Facebook and people around the world seem to

and people around the world seem to

and people around the world seem to yearn for a connection with these

yearn for a connection with these

yearn for a connection with these incredible Giants asking to volunteer

incredible Giants asking to volunteer

incredible Giants asking to volunteer naming elephants adopting orphans and as

naming elephants adopting orphans and as

naming elephants adopting orphans and as the popular interest in elephants has

the popular interest in elephants has

the popular interest in elephants has grown better my husband and elephant

grown better my husband and elephant

grown better my husband and elephant voices colleague and I began to think

voices colleague and I began to think

voices colleague and I began to think well what if we could involve people in

well what if we could involve people in

well what if we could involve people in the kind of work that we do what if we

the kind of work that we do what if we

the kind of work that we do what if we were able to share our observations with

were able to share our observations with

were able to share our observations with the public what if tourists and local

the public what if tourists and local

the public what if tourists and local people alike were able to contribute the

people alike were able to contribute the

people alike were able to contribute the observations that they had made and what

observations that they had made and what

observations that they had made and what if by doing so we were able to create a

if by doing so we were able to create a

if by doing so we were able to create a community of people who cared as much

community of people who cared as much

community of people who cared as much about the future of elephants as we do

about the future of elephants as we do

about the future of elephants as we do what if elephants their families their

what if elephants their families their

what if elephants their families their clans and their habitats could be

clans and their habitats could be

clans and their habitats could be nurtured and protected by individual

nurtured and protected by individual

nurtured and protected by individual people their families entire communities

people their families entire communities

people their families entire communities what if we could build a global network

what if we could build a global network

what if we could build a global network of people working together it would be

of people working together it would be

of people working together it would be compassionate conservation at work

they’re so cute we sat here with these

they’re so cute we sat here with these elephants for about two hours and I

elephants for about two hours and I

elephants for about two hours and I swear this this young female here was

swear this this young female here was

swear this this young female here was just showing off for us I mean she she

just showing off for us I mean she she

just showing off for us I mean she she came up and played with the car for a

came up and played with the car for a

came up and played with the car for a while and then she just engaged with

while and then she just engaged with

while and then she just engaged with these two little two little calves for

these two little two little calves for

these two little two little calves for about two hours so our last year our

about two hours so our last year our

about two hours so our last year our little organization elephant voices set

little organization elephant voices set

little organization elephant voices set out to try and use citizen science and

out to try and use citizen science and

out to try and use citizen science and web technology to forge those

web technology to forge those

web technology to forge those connections starting elephant partners

connections starting elephant partners

connections starting elephant partners in the Masai Mara our concept is to use

in the Masai Mara our concept is to use

in the Masai Mara our concept is to use self phone-based upload of data and

self phone-based upload of data and

self phone-based upload of data and online sharing of observations to

online sharing of observations to

online sharing of observations to connect people to the lives of

connect people to the lives of

connect people to the lives of individual elephants and our vision is

individual elephants and our vision is

individual elephants and our vision is to inspire a global network of people

to inspire a global network of people

to inspire a global network of people working together to ensure a future for

working together to ensure a future for

working together to ensure a future for the Mara elephants and to inform

the Mara elephants and to inform

the Mara elephants and to inform conservation management so working with

conservation management so working with

conservation management so working with Kenyan programmers we designed and built

Kenyan programmers we designed and built

Kenyan programmers we designed and built what we’ve called the Mara elephant

what we’ve called the Mara elephant

what we’ve called the Mara elephant who’s who and whereabouts databases the

who’s who and whereabouts databases the

who’s who and whereabouts databases the who’s who is a unique registry of

who’s who is a unique registry of

who’s who is a unique registry of individual elephants that is searchable

individual elephants that is searchable

individual elephants that is searchable by physiognomy characteristics and it’s

by physiognomy characteristics and it’s

by physiognomy characteristics and it’s linked by individuals to what we call

linked by individuals to what we call

linked by individuals to what we call the whereabouts database that houses all

the whereabouts database that houses all

the whereabouts database that houses all of the sightings of elephant groups and

of the sightings of elephant groups and

of the sightings of elephant groups and both of who’s who and the whereabouts

both of who’s who and the whereabouts

both of who’s who and the whereabouts are connected to Google based mapping

are connected to Google based mapping

are connected to Google based mapping function so to allow many different

function so to allow many different

function so to allow many different people to contribute to the whereabouts

people to contribute to the whereabouts

people to contribute to the whereabouts database we designed and built a cell

database we designed and built a cell

database we designed and built a cell phone application which includes

phone application which includes

phone application which includes sightings wounded elephants and

sightings wounded elephants and

sightings wounded elephants and mortalities and permits direct upload to

mortalities and permits direct upload to

mortalities and permits direct upload to the database and the Mara le app as it’s

the database and the Mara le app as it’s

the database and the Mara le app as it’s called is freely downloadable from the

called is freely downloadable from the

called is freely downloadable from the Android Market and we have built into it

Android Market and we have built into it

Android Market and we have built into it an elephant program and of course the

an elephant program and of course the

an elephant program and of course the Mara elephants are on Facebook so how

Mara elephants are on Facebook so how

Mara elephants are on Facebook so how does it all work well let me give you an

does it all work well let me give you an

does it all work well let me give you an illustration using Kirsten Buescher

illustration using Kirsten Buescher

illustration using Kirsten Buescher she’s a nurse she lives in Germany and

she’s a nurse she lives in Germany and

she’s a nurse she lives in Germany and she is one of our many participants

she is one of our many participants

she is one of our many participants she’s a great photographer

she’s a great photographer

she’s a great photographer she loves elephants and she saves up to

she loves elephants and she saves up to

she loves elephants and she saves up to come to the Mara as often as she can and

come to the Mara as often as she can and

come to the Mara as often as she can and she’s used the database to get to know

she’s used the database to get to know

she’s used the database to get to know the individual elephants that she is

the individual elephants that she is

the individual elephants that she is seen in the Mara and she and her

seen in the Mara and she and her

seen in the Mara and she and her observations are helping us to build an

observations are helping us to build an

observations are helping us to build an understanding of the Mara elephants so

understanding of the Mara elephants so

understanding of the Mara elephants so how am i considering that there are

how am i considering that there are

how am i considering that there are thousands of elephants in the Mara and

thousands of elephants in the Mara and

thousands of elephants in the Mara and over 700 registered in the database so

over 700 registered in the database so

over 700 registered in the database so far how might she be able to identify

far how might she be able to identify

far how might she be able to identify this larger elephant well she might

this larger elephant well she might

this larger elephant well she might notice that this elephant has a smooth

notice that this elephant has a smooth

notice that this elephant has a smooth ear with tiny nicks she has an up curve

ear with tiny nicks she has an up curve

ear with tiny nicks she has an up curve toss that’s higher on the right-hand

toss that’s higher on the right-hand

toss that’s higher on the right-hand side

side

side she’s a large adult female and if you

she’s a large adult female and if you

she’s a large adult female and if you look here her ear bulges forward so then

look here her ear bulges forward so then

look here her ear bulges forward so then she could go to the to the database

she could go to the to the database

she could go to the to the database she’s selected female large adult on the

she’s selected female large adult on the

she’s selected female large adult on the tusks higher right on the right ear

tusks higher right on the right ear

tusks higher right on the right ear smooth with tiny nicks and the ear shape

smooth with tiny nicks and the ear shape

smooth with tiny nicks and the ear shape lobes bulge and by pushing the search

lobes bulge and by pushing the search

lobes bulge and by pushing the search button 700 elephants is reduced to two

button 700 elephants is reduced to two

button 700 elephants is reduced to two individuals by hovering over the code

individuals by hovering over the code

individuals by hovering over the code numbers they’re a little thumbnails

numbers they’re a little thumbnails

numbers they’re a little thumbnails appear and she can see that F female

appear and she can see that F female

appear and she can see that F female number one one five matches the elephant

number one one five matches the elephant

number one one five matches the elephant she’s looking for so so then as a non

she’s looking for so so then as a non

she’s looking for so so then as a non non-resident of the Mara Kirsten can

non-resident of the Mara Kirsten can

non-resident of the Mara Kirsten can contribute $500 to name this elephant

contribute $500 to name this elephant

contribute $500 to name this elephant and she’s done so she named her see on

and she’s done so she named her see on

and she’s done so she named her see on you can see it says up there named by

you can see it says up there named by

you can see it says up there named by Kirsten Buescher and her name then

Kirsten Buescher and her name then

Kirsten Buescher and her name then appears on the ID card and on any

appears on the ID card and on any

appears on the ID card and on any photographs that she’s contributed

photographs that she’s contributed

photographs that she’s contributed toward the database so her her

toward the database so her her

toward the database so her her observations and her

observations and her

observations and her aiming of elephants and her financial

aiming of elephants and her financial

aiming of elephants and her financial contributions allow Kirsten to feel that

contributions allow Kirsten to feel that

contributions allow Kirsten to feel that she is integrated in the project and

she is integrated in the project and

she is integrated in the project and that even though she lives in Germany

that even though she lives in Germany

that even though she lives in Germany she can make a difference well each of

she can make a difference well each of

she can make a difference well each of the observations that Kirsten has made

the observations that Kirsten has made

the observations that Kirsten has made is then uploaded to the database so here

is then uploaded to the database so here

is then uploaded to the database so here is an observation she’s made of seein’s

is an observation she’s made of seein’s

is an observation she’s made of seein’s family and after having named Seon she

family and after having named Seon she

family and after having named Seon she then decided she wanted to name the

then decided she wanted to name the

then decided she wanted to name the whole family she’s named a second adult

whole family she’s named a second adult

whole family she’s named a second adult female in the family

female in the family

female in the family well her donations are going to go

well her donations are going to go

well her donations are going to go toward an elephant scholarship the

toward an elephant scholarship the

toward an elephant scholarship the tuition for putting a student through a

tuition for putting a student through a

tuition for putting a student through a course at the kaki guiding School in the

course at the kaki guiding School in the

course at the kaki guiding School in the Mara and Derrick nabela is one of the

Mara and Derrick nabela is one of the

Mara and Derrick nabela is one of the hundreds of masai guides who has

hundreds of masai guides who has

hundreds of masai guides who has graduated from the kaki guiding school

graduated from the kaki guiding school

graduated from the kaki guiding school and Derrick is another partner of sorry

and Derrick is another partner of sorry

and Derrick is another partner of sorry another participant of elephant partners

another participant of elephant partners

another participant of elephant partners and we spend a day out watching

and we spend a day out watching

and we spend a day out watching elephants together and after that

elephants together and after that

elephants together and after that Derrick went back got on Facebook yes

Derrick went back got on Facebook yes

Derrick went back got on Facebook yes you couldn’t get on Facebook in the Mara

you couldn’t get on Facebook in the Mara

you couldn’t get on Facebook in the Mara and he wrote elephants are awesome when

and he wrote elephants are awesome when

and he wrote elephants are awesome when identifying it gives more sense of care

identifying it gives more sense of care

identifying it gives more sense of care and Derek just got it he had connected

and Derek just got it he had connected

and Derek just got it he had connected with some elephants one of the elephants

with some elephants one of the elephants

with some elephants one of the elephants that he connected with was F or female

that he connected with was F or female

that he connected with was F or female number 96 and she has this beautiful up

number 96 and she has this beautiful up

number 96 and she has this beautiful up curved right tusk and a hole in her left

curved right tusk and a hole in her left

curved right tusk and a hole in her left ear and Derek then decided to name her

ear and Derek then decided to name her

ear and Derek then decided to name her goodness because that’s what he thought

goodness because that’s what he thought

goodness because that’s what he thought of her character well through citizen

of her character well through citizen

of her character well through citizen science and the many photographs that we

science and the many photographs that we

science and the many photographs that we that have been sent to us we’ve been

that have been sent to us we’ve been

that have been sent to us we’ve been able to gather unusual pieces of

able to gather unusual pieces of

able to gather unusual pieces of information for instance we know that

information for instance we know that

information for instance we know that this apparently a peaceful female female

this apparently a peaceful female female

this apparently a peaceful female female number three oh three oh three or Tillie

number three oh three oh three or Tillie

number three oh three oh three or Tillie as she’s called covers quite a large

as she’s called covers quite a large

as she’s called covers quite a large range and at least one of her family

range and at least one of her family

range and at least one of her family members is a killer of cows if you go to

members is a killer of cows if you go to

members is a killer of cows if you go to the mapping page and you put in her

the mapping page and you put in her

the mapping page and you put in her number there and filter you can see

number there and filter you can see

number there and filter you can see where she’s been seen and you can see

where she’s been seen and you can see

where she’s been seen and you can see that she’s been seen six six times the

that she’s been seen six six times the

that she’s been seen six six times the numbers in there show two two

numbers in there show two two

numbers in there show two two observations in that particular area one

observations in that particular area one

observations in that particular area one one of the observations was by a

one of the observations was by a

one of the observations was by a researcher another by a Conservancy

researcher another by a Conservancy

researcher another by a Conservancy manager two observations were by two

manager two observations were by two

manager two observations were by two different tourists and two were made by

different tourists and two were made by

different tourists and two were made by by me one of these was on ilaria Rock

by me one of these was on ilaria Rock

by me one of these was on ilaria Rock Conservancy and where she was seen by

Conservancy and where she was seen by

Conservancy and where she was seen by the manager Rob Amira leaving the scene

the manager Rob Amira leaving the scene

the manager Rob Amira leaving the scene of a crime m73 male number 73 has also

of a crime m73 male number 73 has also

of a crime m73 male number 73 has also been seen across the northern

been seen across the northern

been seen across the northern conservancies and he’s been observed

conservancies and he’s been observed

conservancies and he’s been observed seven times so far he’s a real ham he’s

seven times so far he’s a real ham he’s

seven times so far he’s a real ham he’s been named stony by Pat Derby who runs

been named stony by Pat Derby who runs

been named stony by Pat Derby who runs is the founder and director of the the

is the founder and director of the the

is the founder and director of the the the performing animal welfare society in

the performing animal welfare society in

the performing animal welfare society in California she runs an elephant

California she runs an elephant

California she runs an elephant sanctuary there and she named him Stoney

sanctuary there and she named him Stoney

sanctuary there and she named him Stoney in memory of an Asian elephant who was

in memory of an Asian elephant who was

in memory of an Asian elephant who was injured while performing in Las Vegas

injured while performing in Las Vegas

injured while performing in Las Vegas unable to walk Stoney was put into a

unable to walk Stoney was put into a

unable to walk Stoney was put into a dumpster and wheeled out to the back of

dumpster and wheeled out to the back of

dumpster and wheeled out to the back of the hotel and then put in a mechanical

the hotel and then put in a mechanical

the hotel and then put in a mechanical cattle crush and left in a dark room and

cattle crush and left in a dark room and

cattle crush and left in a dark room and it wasn’t until a year later that an

it wasn’t until a year later that an

it wasn’t until a year later that an attempt was made to release Stoney from

attempt was made to release Stoney from

attempt was made to release Stoney from the mechanical device whereupon he fell

the mechanical device whereupon he fell

the mechanical device whereupon he fell injuring the other the other leg and he

injuring the other the other leg and he

injuring the other the other leg and he had to be euthanized

had to be euthanized

had to be euthanized later that day well Pat Derby was very

later that day well Pat Derby was very

later that day well Pat Derby was very involved in this case and she wanted to

involved in this case and she wanted to

involved in this case and she wanted to know that his namesake would live on

know that his namesake would live on

know that his namesake would live on wild and free

wild and free

wild and free well querying the database the mapping

well querying the database the mapping

well querying the database the mapping function sorry reveals a basic trends in

function sorry reveals a basic trends in

function sorry reveals a basic trends in in habitat use that can be useful for

in habitat use that can be useful for

in habitat use that can be useful for elephant conservation for instance here

elephant conservation for instance here

elephant conservation for instance here you can see that I have I have asked the

you can see that I have I have asked the

you can see that I have I have asked the database to show me where family groups

database to show me where family groups

database to show me where family groups have been seen or family groups with an

have been seen or family groups with an

have been seen or family groups with an adult male and you can see that the

adult male and you can see that the

adult male and you can see that the observations are across the Maasai Mara

observations are across the Maasai Mara

observations are across the Maasai Mara National Reserve as well as outside to

National Reserve as well as outside to

National Reserve as well as outside to the north in these northern

the north in these northern

the north in these northern conservancies but if you if you search

conservancies but if you if you search

conservancies but if you if you search then on male groups only you very

then on male groups only you very

then on male groups only you very quickly see that male groups

quickly see that male groups

quickly see that male groups preferentially use the bushland areas to

preferentially use the bushland areas to

preferentially use the bushland areas to the north and east of the park and on

the north and east of the park and on

the north and east of the park and on the eastern park

the eastern park

the eastern park nineteen-year-old Jeanne Cowell lives

nineteen-year-old Jeanne Cowell lives

nineteen-year-old Jeanne Cowell lives with her family and works with a team of

with her family and works with a team of

with her family and works with a team of of Maasai scouts to protect elephants

of Maasai scouts to protect elephants

of Maasai scouts to protect elephants and predators there and I’m in touch

and predators there and I’m in touch

and predators there and I’m in touch with her via Facebook via Skype and on

with her via Facebook via Skype and on

with her via Facebook via Skype and on email several times a week so the data

email several times a week so the data

email several times a week so the data that she and the scouts have collected

that she and the scouts have collected

that she and the scouts have collected show that that Siana is very important

show that that Siana is very important

show that that Siana is very important they’re very large groups of elephants

they’re very large groups of elephants

they’re very large groups of elephants and very large males but it’s also an

and very large males but it’s also an

and very large males but it’s also an area that’s been neglected and as a

area that’s been neglected and as a

area that’s been neglected and as a result it has suffered very high levels

result it has suffered very high levels

result it has suffered very high levels of poaching so we already know in the

of poaching so we already know in the

of poaching so we already know in the short time that elephant partners have

short time that elephant partners have

short time that elephant partners have been working that this is a very

been working that this is a very

been working that this is a very important area for us to focus on well

important area for us to focus on well

important area for us to focus on well our databases have been online since

our databases have been online since

our databases have been online since October last year we have over 700

October last year we have over 700

October last year we have over 700 elephants registered over 750 sightings

elephants registered over 750 sightings

elephants registered over 750 sightings have been uploaded to the whereabouts

have been uploaded to the whereabouts

have been uploaded to the whereabouts database and over 70 different people

database and over 70 different people

database and over 70 different people have participated and we now have a

have participated and we now have a

have participated and we now have a Kenyan master student working with us

Kenyan master student working with us

Kenyan master student working with us elephant partners is an ambitious

elephant partners is an ambitious

elephant partners is an ambitious project working in a cross-border

project working in a cross-border

project working in a cross-border ecosystem on a population of several

ecosystem on a population of several

ecosystem on a population of several thousand elephants and many challenges

thousand elephants and many challenges

thousand elephants and many challenges lie ahead but the early results I think

lie ahead but the early results I think

lie ahead but the early results I think are promising and in areas I think where

are promising and in areas I think where

are promising and in areas I think where there’s good internet connectivity and

there’s good internet connectivity and

there’s good internet connectivity and species for which recognizing

species for which recognizing

species for which recognizing individuals

individuals

individuals Jules is possible I think the method

Jules is possible I think the method

Jules is possible I think the method we’ve pioneered provides a way to engage

we’ve pioneered provides a way to engage

we’ve pioneered provides a way to engage people in the conservation of

people in the conservation of

people in the conservation of biodiversity thank you

biodiversity thank you

biodiversity thank you [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]