A majestic elephant named Fitz which roams a certain forest in Kenya is still being tracked by conservators.
Scientists have been tracing the elephant’s movement for nearly seven years, after Fitz was fitted with Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) Collar, which was back in 2019.
Jumbo Fitz whose home is in the deep Nyakweri Forest is wearing the GPS satellite collar fitted onto it through special projects undertaken by the Angama Foundation, the Kenya Wildlife Service , Wildlife Research and Training Institute, as well as the Mara Elephant Project.
These three zoological institutions have been tracking the elephant’s movements, providing a peek through the window of the Jumbo’s life.
Perched on top of an escarpment sitting above the Maasai Mara National Reserve, the Nyakweri Forest’s rapid subdivision into individually owned parcels has created increased human-elephant conflict (HEC).
In response, the Mara Elephant Project (MEP) deploys a permanent ranger team to monitor Fitz and his large herd and respond to mitigate the Human Wildlife Conflict.
Despite their shrinking natural habitat and increased human encroachment, throughout the nearly seven years of Elephant Fitz tracking, the animal has not been observed leaving the conservancy even once–until now.
In March, 2025 over a 24-hour period, Fitz moved down the escarpment, passing right by Angama Mara, to the border of the reserve.
“The expansion of fences and ongoing deforestation around Nyakweri are pushing these elephants to look elsewhere for food and space,” pointed out Caroline Mumbi, a researcher with the Mara Elephant Project.
According to Mumbi, the elephants are not just exploring. The giant mammals are striving and adapting to survive.
Researchers believe that the elephant movement could be a sign that the wild animals are now searching for alternative home range as their natural movement paths to water and food have now been blocked by fences being erected by people.
As far as MEP is concerned, “Every elephant movement tells a story!” Apparently, this tale of Jumbo Fitz is just starting to develop, with more events expected to soon come up.