Forest snitches: Elephant spatial behavioral strategies as revelators of human activities in a poaching context

The worldwide decline of large herbivores threatens ecological and socioeconomic functions of ecosystems.

With only ~100 000 remaining individuals, African forest elephants (Loxodonta cyclotis) are most at risk due to the surge in poaching for ivory.

In line with the sustainable development goals defined by the United Nations in 2015 (Target 15.7), the ForSE project aims at improving our understanding of forest elephant space use patterns to better guide anti-poaching actions.

We propose to carry out this project under a 24 months MSCA IF at the MNHN in Paris in close collaboration with the ANPN in Gabon.

Unlike its well-studied relative, the savannah elephant, very little is known on how the African forest elephant deals with human presence.

The ForSE project propose, based on fine scale analyses of space use of collared forest elephants and existing information on poaching pressure, to 1) identify correlated suites of space use traits Spatial Behavioural Strategies (SBS) and validate their use as poaching pressure proxies ; 2) identify space use traits associated with a heightened mortality risk and identify collared elephants at risk; 3) Develop an interactive tool for decision support based on the results of objectives 1 and 2; 4) Disseminate these results to improve anti-poaching actions.

The ForSE project will contribute to the researcher career goal to conduct long-term research programs in a strong interplay with conservation organizations to better guide conservation actions and contribute to the fight against biodiversity collapse.