CITES Elephant Monitoring Network Expanded to 74 Sites
The MIKE Programme added five new locations in West and East Africa to better track elephant poaching trends.
Updated on Sept. 20, 2026 in Wildlife
Live Poll
Do you support the international expansion of coordinated wildlife monitoring networks in developing regions?
The CITES Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE) Programme has expanded its network to 74 sites, adding five new locations across Ghana, Nigeria, and Ethiopia. This expansion aims to strengthen the tracking of poaching trends in regions where elephant populations face significant conservation challenges.
Why it matters
By adding new monitoring sites, the program improves its ability to guide conservation actions and implement global resolutions aimed at protecting vulnerable elephant populations. This data-driven approach is essential for identifying illegal killing patterns in areas where elephant geographic range is limited.
The MIKE network now encompasses 74 locations, up from 39 sites in 2001. West Africa, which accounts for under 5 percent of the continent's elephant range, currently holds less than 3 percent of the total African elephant population.
The players
CITES
This is an international agreement between governments that ensures trade in wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.
MIKE Programme
This is a CITES-led initiative designed to monitor the illegal killing of elephants through a network of sites across Africa and Asia.
European Union
This is a political and economic union of member states that provides financial support for international conservation and biodiversity efforts.
The details
The newly added locations include Digya National Park and Bia National Park in Ghana, Cross River National Park and Okumu National Park in Nigeria, and Gambella National Park in Ethiopia. Supported by the European Union, the expansion integrates standardized mortality recording protocols and provides practical training for local rangers.
Timeline
The original MIKE network was established with 39 sites in 2001.
Five new monitoring sites were officially added in September 2026.
The current expansion aligns with the 2021-2030 CITES Strategic Vision period.
Culture Shift
This expansion reflects a broader shift toward data-centric international conservation that moves beyond basic counting toward localized mortality monitoring. It follows the frameworks set by CITES Resolution Conf. 10.10 to ensure standardized reporting across diverse geographic regions.
The expansion of the MIKE network relies on local park staff to implement consistent recording and training protocols for monitoring wildlife mortality. Residents living near these national parks may see an increased presence of trained rangers conducting regular patrols and reporting activities.
The takeaway
Reliable data remains the cornerstone of effective wildlife protection and the prevention of illegal poaching activities. International collaboration and consistent on-the-ground monitoring are necessary to protect the remaining elephant populations across the African continent.
Further reading
Learn more about conservation efforts at the Wildlife section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by EnviroNews - latest environment news, climate change, renewable energy.
Live Poll
Do you support the international expansion of coordinated wildlife monitoring networks in developing regions?
