Tammy Eggeling, Author at Elephant Reintegration Trust

Off-Road Adventures

Tammy Eggeling — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 20:34:05 +0000

For contributing essential skid-plates to help protect the underside of our research vehicle during fieldwork.

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Zook Doc-Jimny Specialist

Tammy Eggeling — Thu, 14 May 2026 20:28:15 +0000

For sponsoring parts and labour towards essential repairs and the fine-tuning of our research vehicle.

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Publication: Fence Removal Enhances Elephant Movement and Promotes Behavioural, Physiological and Ecological Functioning

Tammy Eggeling — Fri, 01 May 2026 20:25:11 +0000

Fenced reserves are widely used to conserve and manage African savanna elephants (Loxodonta africana) in South Africa. However, the effects of fencing and fence removal on elephant wellbeing, movement and ecosystem dynamics remain limited in understanding, with few studies incorporating these elements. We hypothesised that fence removal would increase elephant movement flexibility and range, reduce behavioural disturbance and increase sociality, reduce stress-related biomarkers and redistribute browsing pressure. We evaluated how a resident elephant population in a private reserve in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, responded to the removal of two internal fences by integrating focal behavioural observations, faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) analyses, NDVI-based vegetation assessments and GPS collar data collected before and after fence removal. Fence removal increased home-range extent, seasonal mobility and inter-herd spatial overlap, with elephants incorporating newly accessible habitat at variable rates. Initial movement was towards lower density environments during the exploratory phase, with greater distribution in space utilisation over time. Behavioural responses indicated short-term increases in aggression, vigilance and disturbance-related behaviours immediately after fence removal, followed by stabilisation, reduced aggression and increased affiliative behaviour over time. Activity budgets shifted towards increased locomotion and reduced foraging, consistent with exploratory behaviour. fGCM concentrations declined significantly following fence removal and remained significant after accounting for demographic and environmental variables, suggesting reduced physiological stress. Vegetation dynamics were spatially heterogeneous yet comparable between areas of elephant presence and absence. This suggests that expanded access redistributed browsing pressure without causing disproportionate vegetation loss with vegetation change primarily driven by environmental variability and not elephant access. These findings suggest that fence removal can promote more natural movement, behavioural responses and physiological regulation, while maintaining vegetation dynamics consistent with background climatic variability. Fence removal may therefore provide an alternative or complementary approach to population management by alleviating spatial constraints and redistributing ecological pressure across the landscape.

READ FULL ARTICLE

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MySchool & Woolies card subscribers

Tammy Eggeling — Wed, 21 May 2025 10:36:33 +0000

For listing ERT as your beneficiary, and contributing towards the proceeds that get donated through your monthly use of these loyalty cards.

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Freya Bellew & Immy Vieten

Tammy Eggeling — Wed, 21 May 2025 10:11:30 +0000

For assisting with valuable data collection over the last couple of years on multiple research reserves.

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Ashleigh Simms

Tammy Eggeling — Wed, 21 May 2025 10:03:23 +0000

For your incredible generosity in funding the removal of GPS collars from our rewilded elephants on !Khamab Kalahari Reserve, your monthly contribution towards our general expenses, and for assisting with the purchase of a research vehicle.

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Marina Demierre

Tammy Eggeling — Wed, 21 May 2025 10:00:59 +0000

For the funding of the translocation of adult bulls Norman to Mount Camdeboo Game Reserve and Chulumacha to !Khamab Kalahari Reserve. These were significant operations and we are in awe of your heart for these animals and your selfless acts of kindness through the immensely generous funding that enabled better lives for these elephants on a individual level.

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Warriors for African Wildlife and Ivan Carter

Tammy Eggeling — Wed, 21 May 2025 09:56:16 +0000

For your financial contribution towards the translocation of elephant bulls, Kaingo and Seleka to !Khamab Kalahari Reserve to contribute to the social structure of the resident rewilded elephant.

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Fondation Franz Weber

Tammy Eggeling — Wed, 21 May 2025 09:51:50 +0000

For the generous funding of our first elephant rescue translocation in 2020, where we rescued 6 elephants from being culled and rehomed them where they could valuably contribute to improving the herd social structures on !Khamab Kalahari Reserve.

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Black Elephant Vintners & Co.

Tammy Eggeling — Mon, 19 May 2025 10:32:47 +0000

For contributing a percentage of their canned wine sales to ERT.

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