Tracking Endangered Elephants With Satellite Technology

ScienceDaily (May 24, 2012) — GPS and satellite technology is helping experts develop a long term strategy to protect the endangered Malaysian elephant.

A hundred years ago wild elephants on the Malay Peninsular could be counted in their thousands -- now there are less than 1500. Over the last century around 50 per cent of forest cover in Peninsular Malaysia has been lost.

Using the very latest GPS and satellite communication technology experts from The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus (UNMC) and the Malaysian Department of Wildlife and National Parks are tracking some of the remaining elephants to assess the effectiveness of the Malaysian Government's elephant conservation and management practices.

On May 22, to coincide with International Day for Biological Diversity, The Malaysian Ministry of Natural Resources through its Department of Wildlife and National Parks is signing memorandums of understanding on research collaboration with the UNMC and 10 public Malaysian universities. The Department and UNMC are also signing a Memorandum of Agreement specifically for MEME, the Management & Ecology of Malaysian Elephants research project.



Continued:  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120524092756.htm