GPS on Elephants

Satellite Tracking Five Pygmy Elephants in Borneo

In June 2005, WWF outfitted five pygmy elephants with satellite collars and began tracking them through the forests of Borneo for two years to learn more about these little pachyderms. They're pint-sized, chubby and gentle-natured - and found nowhere else on Earth.



The scientific world knows almost nothing about them. How many are there? Do they form the same matriarchal societies as other elephants? Why do they live only in a tiny pocket of forest on the northeast tip of Borneo? One thing we do know is that they are under severe threat as their jungle habitat is considered prime real estate for commercial palm oil plantations. As they must search harder for food in a shrinking habitat, they are often seen as crop-raiding pests by plantation workers and small farmers. WWF guesstimates that there are as few as 1,500 pygmy elephants remaining, but further research is needed to determine a better count.



Watch a video about the radio collaring project.

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