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His observations provided the empirical backbone for one of the most significant conservation victories in history. In an era when the ivory trade was decimating populations across the continent, Douglas-Hamilton transitioned from a quiet researcher to a fierce international advocate. Armed with data that proved the systematic collapse of elephant societies due to poaching, he took his findings to the world stage. His testimony and tireless lobbying were instrumental in the historic 1989 global ban on the ivory trade. He understood that to save the species, one had to change the economic and political incentives that drove their slaughter, and he navigated the halls of power with the same steady resolve he used to track herds in the bush.
As technology evolved, so too did his methods for safeguarding the herds he loved. Recognizing that the greatest threat to elephants in the 21st century was the loss of habitat and the fragmentation of their ancient migratory paths, he founded Save the Elephants, a globally respected conservation organization. He pioneered the use of satellite-linked GPS collars, a technological leap that allowed researchers to visualize elephant movements across thousands of miles in real-time. This “eye in the sky” approach revealed the secret maps of the savanna—showing how elephants avoid human conflict zones and trek across international borders in search of sustenance. This data has become the blueprint for modern land-use planning, helping governments establish wildlife corridors that allow for the peaceful coexistence of humans and elephants.
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