Context. Continued demand for long-distance remote wildlife tracking has resulted in the development of a variety of satellite tracking technologies. Choosing an appropriate satellite tracking system for a project involves financial, technical and operational tradeoffs associated with different systems.Aim. The aim of the present research was to assess the technology options and associated costs to help wildlife researchers select the best tracking solution for their needs.Methods. A technology-choice decision guide was developed to assist wildlife scientists select an optimal tracking technology. We undertook four satellite tracking case studies involving avian, aquatic and terrestrial species living in diverse environments around the world and use these case studies to validate and test the technology-choice decision guide and to calculate the cost effectiveness of alternative tracking methods. Technologies used in marine tracking were out of the scope of the present paper.Key results. Choosing the tracking method best suited for a project requires (1) clearly specifying the data required to meet project objectives, (2) understanding the constraints imposed by the study species and its environment, and (3) calculating the net cost per datum of the various tracking methods available.Key conclusions. We suggest that, in most circumstances, global positioning system (GPS) tracking is preferable to other options. However, where weight and environmental limitations prevent the use of GPS, alternatives such as Argos satellite Doppler-based positions (Argos) or very high frequency (VHF) can function adequately.Implications. The present paper provides simplified criteria for selecting the best wildlife satellite tracking technology for different situations.

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During a five-year GPS satellite tracking study in Sabi Sand Reserve (SSR) and Kruger National Park (KNP) we monitored the daily movements of an elephant cow (Loxodonta africana) from September 2003 to August 2008. The study animal was confirmed to be part of a group of seven elephants therefore her position is representative of the matriarchal group. We found that the study animal did not use habitat randomly and confirmed strong seasonal fidelity to its summer and winter five-year home ranges. The cow's summer home range was in KNP in an area more than four times that of her SSR winter home range. She exhibited clear park habitation with up to three visits per year travelling via a well-defined northern or southern corridor. There was a positive correlation between the daily distance the elephant walked and minimum daily temperature and the elephant was significantly closer to rivers and artificial waterholes than would be expected if it were moving randomly in KNP and SSR. Transect lines established through the home ranges were surveyed to further understand the fine scale of the landscape and vegetation representative of the home ranges.

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Lighting accounts for over 20% of electricity use in the residential sector of Cameroon. Due to the unreliable and inadequate energy supply in the country, there is a need for the efficient utilization of the available energy. This paper presents the current different technologies used for artificial lighting including the economic and environmental benefits associated with a switch from incandescent lighting to compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) and light emitting diode (LED) in residential dwellings in Buea, Cameroon. The study employed a survey of 100 residential dwellings in Buea. Results of the survey revealed that artificial lighting in dwellings is achieved through the use of the following technologies: incandescent lamps, CFLs and fluorescent tubes. The economic assessment for the substitution of incandescent lamps with CFL and LED considering an average daily lighting duration of six hours was also conducted using the net present value (NPV), benefit cost ratio (BCR), the simple payback period (PBP) and a life cycle cost analysis (LCC). The economic assessment revealed an NPV that ranges from $47 to $282.02, a BCR of 1.84 and a PBP of 0.17 year for the substitution of current incandescent lamps in dwellings with CFL while the substitution of incandescent lamps with LED revealed an NPV of the range $89.14 to $370, a BCR of 3.18 and a PBP of 1.92 years. The LED and incandescent technologies emerged with the lowest and highest LCC respectively. Substituting incandescent lamps with CFL and LED results in a reduction in lighting related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from dwellings by 66.6% and 83.3% respectively. From the results, a transition towards efficient lighting in the residential sector of Cameroon possesses great economic and environmental benefits. There is need for the government of Cameroon to expedite the uptake of LED through the formulation and implementation of favourable policies.

We studied the seasonal home ranges and space use of three breeding herds of elephants (Loxodonta africana) for 3-5 years in an area comprising South Africa's Sabi Sand Reserve (SSR) and Kruger National Park (KNP). Global Positioning System (GPS) transmitters were attached to the matriarchs of three herds and set to transmit a single daily location. Each herd was located in SSR 31%, 60% and 84% of the time. During the wet summer months, the herds walked longer distances and occupied larger seasonal home ranges than during the corresponding dry winter period. Core areas were centred on riverine habitats within both parks, with all three herds exhibiting closer distances to rivers and artificial water holes than would be expected if they were moving randomly. Home ranges within SSR overlapped much of the park. However, in KNP they occupied discrete areas with little overlap. Much of the movement between the two parks occurred along welldefined corridors. This study shows that elephant herds depended upon the resources of both parks, providing an insight into their within-and between-seasonal movements. This highlights the importance of ongoing co-operation between wildlife managers from both parks when forming policy. RésuméNous avons étudié les domaines vitaux et l'utilisation de l'espace saisonniers de trois troupeaux d'éléphants (Loxodonta africana) pendant trois à cinq ans sur une superficie qui englobe la Sabi Sand Reserve (SSR) et le Parc National Kruger (PNK), en Afrique du Sud. Des colliers GPS ont été fixés sur les matriarches des trois troupeaux et réglés pour transmettre une seule localisation par jour. Chaque troupeau s'est trouvé respectivement 31, 60 et 84% du temps dans la SSR. Pendant les mois d'été humides, les troupeaux parcouraient de plus longues distances et occupaient des domaines vitaux saisonniers plus vastes que pendant la période hivernale sèche correspondante. Les zones principales se concentraient sur des habitats riverains dans les deux parcs, les trois troupeaux se trouvant à des plus courtes distances des rivières et des points d'eau artificiels que s'ils s'étaient déplacés simplement au hasard. Dans la SSR, les domaines vitaux couvraient une grande partie du parc, mais au PNK, ils occupaient des lieux bien définis qui se recouvraient peu. La plupart des déplacements entre les deux parcs se faisaient le long de corridors bien délimités. Cette étude montre que les troupeaux d'éléphants dépendent des ressources des deux parcs et donne un aperçu de leurs déplacements saisonniers. Ceci souligne l'importance de la coopération actuelle entre les gestionnaires de la faune des deux parcs au moment d'établir une politique.

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