While conducting a routine aerial monitoring exercise in the Mau Forest, MEP rangers captured a whimsical moment; a baby elephant practicing how to use its trunk. At the end of the video, this curious little one walks over to its mother as if to say, “Mom, guess what I did!”

The day we’ve all been waiting for has finally arrived – the 2025 UltraMARAthon! Over 250 runners from all over the world joined rangers, tourism camps and corporations to complete the 50 km foot race through the iconic Maasai Mara.

The UltraMARAthon is tomorrow! Mara Elephant Project is at work today alongside partners from the Kenya Forest Service, Kenya Wildlife Service and conservancies to create a safe route for the over 250 runners expected tomorrow for race day.

The countdown is on! In just 24 hours, the two Mara Elephant Project teams will join the over 250 runners for the 2025 UltraMARAthon. Every step they take helps raise vital funds to support rangers, community health initiatives, and conservation efforts across the Mara. 🌍🐘

To mark #NationalTreeGrowingDay in Kenya, the MEP education team joined partners, over 100 students and their parents at Olmeoshi Comprehensive School and planted 60 indigenous trees in the school compound as part of an initiative to re-green areas where play and learning take place.

Such a sweet scene. Here you can see a baby elephant nursing from its mother while the herd stays close. Gentle touches and constant guidance from the adults help the young feel safe and supported. It’s a wonderful reminder to MEP why we’re dedicated to protecting this future gentle giant.

At 4 in the morning, MEP rangers responded to a human-elephant conflict situation involving a herd of 25 elephants that had moved into a sugarcane farm. Deploying their thermal drone, they safely guided the herd out of the farm to minimize the damage.

Thanks to MEP’s partner Naboisho Conservancy, we didn’t miss a chance to witness a truly amazing sight in the Mara; a large herd of over 70 individual elephants. Consisting of several smaller family groups, encountering a herd of this size is a unique opportunity to observe their behavior.

While a baby elephant mock charging can be quite adorable, these help calves practice social cues, build strength, and mimic adult behaviors like herd protection — all while having fun and learning the skills they’ll need to thrive.

Every day, MEP rangers and researchers are out in the field monitoring elephants, mitigation human-elephant conflict all to protect Kenya’s wildlife and wild spaces. But they can’t do it alone. Your monthly donation helps! Join the MEP monthly donor club today and support them. buff.ly/M99iVYL

This week, MEP rangers responded to a report that elephants entered a fenced in settlement area. With careful coordination, they deployed their drone to help. They captured the clever elephant mom using one of the fence posts to pry open the wired fence so the young calf could safely pass through.

Late one evening , MEP rangers responded to move a bull wandering closely to community settlements. Using their thermal drone, the rangers were able to quickly locate the elephant in the dark and safely guide him away from the area without harm.

New! The #MEPMissionMinute, spotlighting a part of MEP’s approach and the amazing teams making it possible. Meet Sarafina Sironka, the Senior Project Research Officer for our long-term monitoring (LTM) team.

Last week, the MEP rangers deployed their drone to guide a herd of elephants moving toward a settlement area back to safety. The Maji Moto area is known for high levels of human-elephant conflict as it forms part of a key elephant corridor connecting Mosiro and the Maasai Mara.

Just a quick visit from Mara Elephant Project's friend Fred, since it’s #FridaysWithFred. He stopped by, said ‘hi’, and then went on his way.