Elephant Reintegration Trust

Publication: Investigating the adaptive coping mechanisms of rewilded elephants: A comparison of behavioural and physiological variables with wild elephants

Tammy Eggeling — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 12:09:46 +0000

Literature on the adaptability and environmental processing abilities of ex-captive (rewilded) African elephants (Loxodonta africana) is sparse, emphasising the importance of this research area. By broadening our knowledge on the topic of rewilded elephant behaviour, we can generate a realistic expectation for stakeholders wanting to secure locations for these captive elephants with the aim of rewilding them. We studied 11 African elephants who have been rewilded onto various fenced reserves in South Africa. We measured their adaptability and response to their environment by comparing their behavioural frequencies within four categories and their physiological responses (faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) concentrations), to those observed for free-roaming elephants in South Africa. All study animals were grouped into three age/sex categories (Adult females (AF); Adult males (AM); Sub-adult females (SAF)). The results demonstrated that rewilded elephants expressed similar behavioural frequencies to their wild counterparts, except within the “Attentive” category, where both rewilded AMs and SAFs showed significantly lower frequencies than wild elephants. On the contrary, rewilded AFs and SAFs had comparatively higher fGCM concentrations than wild elephants. Through individual comparisons, it was evident that rewilded elephants have adopted unique mechanisms to process environmental stimuli. When the relationship between behavioural and physiological responses was investigated, certain rewilded elephants showed a strong relationship between the two parameters. However, for other elephants, there was no clear correlation between behavioural frequencies and fGCM concentrations. These distinctive differences might largely be influenced by personality traits that will determine whether the elephants respond actively or passively to their environment. This study has shown that rewilded elephants can adapt to wild environments after long-term captivity and that each of them implemented unique ways of coping with both natural and management-related pressures in the different reserves.

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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.

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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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Humane World for Animals

MSR-Dev — Wed, 21 May 2025 10:34:06 +0000

Thank you for your continued support of our Greater Welfare Research Project since 2021 (continuous). Your generous funding has not only sustained our ongoing research but also enabled us to present our findings at the SAWMA Conference in 2022 and publish our work in open-access journals, ensuring broad dissemination and impact. A heartfelt thank you for the GPS collars provided to track our research elephants, as well as for your invaluable contribution to various translocation and collaring operations. We also deeply appreciate your support in implementing the immunocontraception program for our rewilded elephants on the !Khamab Kalahari Reserve.

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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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