Kenya wildlife service are using a unique method to not only save elephants from being killed but also prevent them from straying into nearby villages and destroy the season's harvest.

Elephants have a mobile phone card inserted in their collar that sends forest rangers a text message every time an elephant is close to entering the neighbouring farms. This SMS technique is being experimented by Save the Elephants group at Ol Pejeta conservation park in Kenya. It seems it has done wonders for both the villagers and the elephants.

It was a major problem for the small farmers, who heavily depend on the crops to earn their livelihood, as many times elephants have invaded their fields and destroyed the crops. The Kenyan Wildlife Service was forced to shoot five elephants at Ol Pejeta because of persistent crop-raiding.

The group Save the Elephants decided to make a virtual geofence using Global Positioning System that mirrored the boundaries of the nature park. One troublesome elephant 'Kimani', caught raiding the fields many times, had a mobile SIM card fitted into his collar.
Every time he headed close to the field, an automatic warning message would go to the ranger, who would then take the elephant back into the reserve. They have intercepted Kimani 15 times since the project began. Since the elephants' movements can be tracked on Google Earth, it can also prevent poaching.

The system has worked since crop raids have dropped, so if one elephant was stopped, others followed, so they learnt from each other.