With growing concerns around captive elephant management, reintegration (returning elephants to free-roaming conditions with minimal human intervention) has become increasingly important for improving animal well-being. Despite over 20 reintegrated elephants in South Africa, little is known about their behavioural adaptations post-release. This study tracked the movement of two herds across two reserves over 57 months to assess whether changes in movement behaviour reflect successful adaptation. Results showed that rewilded elephants exhibited clear seasonal and daily movement patterns, similar to wild elephants, and that these patterns evolved over time. Variation between the herds suggested that factors like reserve familiarity, release timing, and the presence of wild elephants influence adaptation. While limited by sample size, the study highlights the capacity of formerly captive elephants to adapt to free-living conditions, reinforcing the value of reintegration and rewilding as a conservation and well-being strategy.

This presentation showcased a research article that was published in 2024 on the “Movement patterns of two reintegrated African elephant (Loxodonta africana) herds”