Zimbabwe Leverages GPS Technology to Curb Human-Elephant Conflict
A new conservation initiative in Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park is using real-time GPS tracking to reduce human-elephant conflict, which has intensified due to climate-induced resource scarcity. Led by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), the project involves collaring elephants—primarily matriarchs—to monitor herd movements and provide early warnings to nearby communities through digital alerts and on-the-ground patrols.
The effort is supported by the EarthRanger platform, a mapping and data-collection system that tracks elephants’ proximity to buffer zones as well as incidents of crop damage or human-wildlife encounters. Trained local volunteers, known as community guardians, help disseminate alerts and document conflict data, improving response times and informing conservation strategies. With 16 elephants currently collared and a population exceeding local ecological capacity, the project offers a scalable model for balancing conservation with community safety and resilience.
Source: The Zimbabwean
