LIVING WITH GIANTS: TACKLING HUMAN-ELEPHANT CONFLICT IN KIDEPO
In the northeastern corner of Uganda, in the Karamoja region, lies Kidepo Valley National Park. Remote and dramatic, it borders Kenya and South Sudan, framed by distant mountain ranges and fed by seasonal rivers. Despite its beauty and abundant wildlife, Kidepo remains one of Uganda’s least visited parks, but it has no shortage of champions, committed to doing whatever it takes to protect it.
A few years ago, the warden of Kidepo Valley National Park was asked what he needed help with most. His answer was immediate: the elephants. Years of conservation success had led to a remarkable recovery - Kidepo is now home to one of Uganda’s largest elephant populations, now estimated at around 1,000 individuals. But the elephants’ ancient migratory routes now lead into landscapes that are just as full of life, with farming families, schools, and growing settlements. The results were predictable and painful: seasons’ worth of crops destroyed in a night, children afraid to walk to school. The resentment is understandable.
And yet, there’s actually enough land and resources for both elephants and people, it’s just a question of learning to live side by side.
A major report was commissioned to identify practical, science-based solutions to the human–elephant conflict around the park. From that, the Kidepo Human–Elephant Conflict Project was born. Its aim: to take a proactive, evidence-led approach to fostering peaceful coexistence.
The plan involves a combination of targeted fencing, tracking technology, rapid-response teams, and community-led interventions. Strategic electric fencing will protect the highest-risk farms while keeping essential wildlife corridors open. GPS collars and real-time monitoring systems will track elephant movements, allowing for early warnings and better prevention. On the ground, rapid response teams will use non-lethal deterrents - like firecrackers, lights, and drones - to safely steer elephants away from people. Most importantly, communities will be supported with training and tools to reduce conflict and build lasting support for conservation.
In June 2025, WildLandscapes East Africa partnered with the Uganda Wildlife Authority, Uganda Conservation Foundation, Mara Elephant Project, Save the Elephants, Northern Rangelands Trust, and Tropic Air to collar 16 elephants in Kidepo Valley National Park. The goal is to collect vital movement data that will help shape more effective strategies for reducing human-elephant conflict, ensuring our efforts have the most impact and the best chance for long-lasting success.
This project is a collaborative effort, led by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) alongside partners with deep expertise in elephant monitoring, conflict mitigation, and community engagement. WildLandscapes is supporting the initiative by mobilising resources, strengthening partnerships, and helping ensure long-term sustainability.
The ultimate goal is about balance. Elephants are keystone species, shaping landscapes, dispersing seeds and creating habitats for others. Their presence is vital for the health of Kidepo’s ecosystem. But for conservation to work, local people need to be able to live and farm in peace too.
With a long-term plan in motion, the Kidepo Human–Elephant Conflict Project has the potential to become a blueprint for how people and wildlife can thrive together in one of Africa’s most spectacular wildernesses.
The Uganda Conservation Foundation (UCF), founded in 2001, is a UK-registered charity that works in close partnership with the Uganda Wildlife Authority to restore national parks, reconnect wildlife corridors, and reduce illegal activity. Its efforts include building ranger infrastructure, running anti-snare patrols, and supporting education and livelihoods in neighbouring communities. UCF’s field-based work has contributed to the recovery of elephants, giraffes, lions and other key species in Uganda.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) manages the country’s network of national parks and reserves. With a mandate to conserve Uganda’s rich biodiversity, UWA supports species protection, ecological research, and nature-based tourism. Its responsibilities include tackling poaching, resolving human–wildlife conflict, and leading wildlife reintroductions, including Uganda’s national rhino recovery strategy.
Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) is the national authority responsible for conserving Kenya’s wildlife and protected areas. Established in 1989, it manages over 40 national parks and reserves, oversees ecological monitoring, and addresses human–wildlife conflict. KWS works with communities, private landowners, and NGOs to protect biodiversity and maintain essential corridors across Kenya.
Founded in 2011, the Mara Elephant Project (MEP) works to protect elephants and their habitats in the Greater Mara Ecosystem. Using GPS tracking, real-time monitoring and rapid-response ranger units, MEP tackles poaching and human–elephant conflict. Its community-based approach and use of technology make it a leading force in elephant conservation across the region.
Save the Elephants, founded in 1993 by Iain Douglas-Hamilton, is a research-led charity based in Nairobi. Its mission is to secure a future for elephants and the landscapes they inhabit. The organisation pioneered GPS tracking in Africa, supports coexistence tools such as beehive fences, and co-manages the Elephant Crisis Fund to address threats across the continent.
Established in 2004, the Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT) supports a growing network of 45 community conservancies across Kenya and Uganda. Governed by a Council of Elders drawn from its member conservancies, NRT works to link conservation with peacebuilding, grazing management, women’s enterprise, and youth engagement. Its efforts help protect critical species such as the hirola and Grevy’s zebra, while strengthening community resilience.