Volunteers needed to help scientists explore fascinating lives of desert elephants

Earthwatch Institute, Maynard, MA, USA 16 May 2006-The world's largest land mammal needs more than 30 gallons of water a day to live. So how do elephants survive in a desert? This summer, Earthwatch volunteers from around the world will discover for themselves in the magnificent desert landscapes of Namibia, formerly Southwest Africa.

"Northwest Namibia is one of the most isolated and scenically spectacular places on the planet," said Dr. Keith Leggett, principal investigator of Earthwatch's Desert Elephants of Namibia project. The Namib Desert is home of the world's tallest sand dunes, as well as stunning mountain ranges and exquisite rock art. It also supports an amazing diversity of unique wildlife, as visitors to nearby Etosha National Park and the Skeleton Coast can attest. "Throughout this unforgiving environment there is the miracle of life and surprisingly, a variety of large mammals have adapted to it," continued Leggett.

Desert elephants, the highlight of photo safaris in the region, are a case in point. These intelligent and highly social animals use their trunks to dig deep wells in sand rivers, for example, to reach the water several feet beneath the surface. Earthwatch volunteers may observe this and other behaviors, while working alongside Dr. Leggett in his effort to conserve these unique elephants.

Last February, a BBC film crew documented Leggett's work as he expertly attached a radio-collar to a mature bull elephant near the Hoanib River. Although the elephants of Namibia have been filmed extensively and are a well-known tourist attraction, Leggett's study is one of the first to scientifically document the home range and movements of these massive animals. Preliminary findings recently published in African Zoology show that elephant movements range from 50 to 625 kilometers (31 to 388 miles), over a period of up to five months, in response to available water and vegetation.

"This bull moved straight into the floodplains of the Hoanib River, a move none of the previously collared elephants had undertaken," said Leggett. "It will be very interesting to see his movements when he comes into musth (mating season), especially in response to the other dominant bull in the area."

In June, July, and August, Earthwatch teams will help Leggett track this animal, as well as up to a dozen others that he has radio-collared. They will also identify individual elephants in the field, using distinguishing tusk characteristics, ear scars, and footprint patterns, and observe their behavior. This information will help conservation agencies better manage Namibia's unique desert elephants.

Along the way, volunteers will see giraffes, gemsbok, springbok, and other wildlife unique to southern Africa. Namibia's dry season (in June, July and August) is ideal for wildlife viewing, when both predators and prey may frequent the same waterholes. But the two-week visit is much more than a safari, with rewarding benefits for both the volunteers and the local community. Because most of the elephants roam outside protected areas, resolving conflicts between humans and wildlife is a key goal of Leggett's research.

Earthwatch teams will stay in a remote field camp with a view of the dramatic desert landscape, and cook their own meals over an open fire. They will learn more about this desert wilderness than they could in a lifetime of television programs. Leggett is extremely knowledgeable about life in the bush, is highly energetic, and has a contagious sense of humor. Details on how to watch elephants, and insights on the behavior of elephants and other wildlife, will be part of evening lectures around the campfire.

Allison Fulton, who volunteered last year said, "I had a wonderful trip to Namibia and can't believe that I had so much fun in the name of research."

Earthwatch Institute is a global volunteer organization that supports scientific field research by offering members of the public unique opportunities to work alongside leading field scientists and researchers. Earthwatch's mission is to engage people worldwide in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment. The year 2006 marks Earthwatch's 35th anniversary.

For more information on how to volunteer on Desert Elephants of Namibia, and photos, go to http://www.earthwatch.org/expeditions/leggett.html