The Amboseli Elephant Research Project is the longest-running elephant study in the world, tracking over 2,500 individually identified elephants in Kenya’s Amboseli ecosystem for more than 30 years. The project reveals how elephants adapt to changing seasons, use habitat and build complex social and communication systems. It also shows how these intelligent animals interact with local Maasai communities and respond to human presence. By documenting birth rates, movement patterns, genetics and behavior, the study offers crucial insights for managing elephant populations and protecting biodiversity. Importantly, the research highlights the value of local partnerships and responsible land use in conservation. Like well-managed hunting programs, this long-term data supports community-based solutions and emphasizes that sustainable wildlife use—including regulated tourism or hunting—can play a critical role in funding conservation, preventing poaching, and preserving habitats. This model shows that science, tradition and local stewardship must work together to ensure the future of wildlife.
