We are Elephant Reintegration Trust (ERT), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the livelihoods of the much loved African elephants within South Africa and abroad.
Sadly, a number of elephants are still kept captive in South Africa where their basic needs cannot be adequately met for them to thrive. Many are deprived of the space they need, family members to interact with and are forced to entertain tourists multiple times a day.
We aim to play an integral part of giving these elephants a chance at a normal, free life. Giving these intelligent, social creatures the freedom they deserve while conducting research to ensure that all their needs – spatial, social and biological – are met.
Our vision at ERT is to see all captive elephants in South Africa rewilded into a reserve where they can roam as free animals again. Alongside this we believe research plays a critical role in this process of learning how to best go about meeting the unique social and biological needs of elephants, whether it be saving them from captivity or ensuring their optimal well-being in managed fenced reserves.
The journey will be long, but a journey worth making.
At ERT, we aim to not only reintegrate captive elephants into the wild but to monitor their life in managed reserves to ensure their well-being is optimal and that their basic needs are being met.
Compassionately facilitating the transition of elephants from captivity to the wild.
Working with partners to enable well-informed elephant movements between reserves.
Investigating and establishing well-being parameters for wild elephants in fenced reserve systems.
Collaring key research individuals to gain insight into the effects of management interventions on social interactions and landscape use.
We are always busy and so are the ellies we’ve worked with. To keep up with the herd, see what we’ve all been up to below.
2025 marks the 10th anniversary of our incredible story of the rewilded African elephant on !Khamab Kalahari reserve. We will be celebrating this success story by removing the GPS collars
Publication on our research on the welfare of Rewilded Elephants in South Africa. The study explores how elephants’ behavioural repertoires and frequencies change throughout a reintegration operation in comparison to
Our study on the movement patterns of two rewilded herds has continued to amaze us. This study underpins the potential of captive elephants to successfully adapt to a free-living
ERT’s team is flourishing with remarkable individuals who are instrumental in advancing our research objectives and beyond. Its been a delight having our first field volunteers, Freya and Immy, form
Since 2021, the Reintegrated herd on !Khamab Kalahari Reserve welcomed one new calf in 2021 and the Wild herd was blessed with two new calves in 2023. These two herds
Throughout the course of 2022-2023, we have collared seven elephants and continue to monitor them. Movement patterns of elephants on fenced reserves forms an essential part of our long-term research
We have big dreams at ERT to ensure all elephants life the life they deserve and we need you help to achieve it. Supporting us achieve our goals goes beyond financial contribution, it’s about starting the conversation, spreading the word and ceasing support for captive facilities.
All support, big or small is deeply appreciated.
Proudly Built & Designed by Moonshine Run
Stay up to date with the lastest ERT news.
