[SatNews] A parnership has been developed with the Epicocity Project.

Spot LLC's new partnership is with international explorers and conservationists Epicocity Project, on their upcoming Elephant Ivory Project, (EIP) expedition. The team aims to identify the locations and types of elephants being poached in the Democratic Republic of Congo while raising global awareness on the growing illegal ivory trade through social media and a feature documentary. The demand for ivory has increased in recent years, leading to the rising number of elephants being poached. Over the five week expedition, the team will join forces with biology department director Sam Wasser and the Conservation Biology lab at the University of Washington to complete a DNA map of African elephants by collecting samples of elephant scat in the remote Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The DNA map will identify herds that are being targeted and help track illegal ivory trade routes.

SPOT will provide EIP with its satellite-based messaging technology allowing for reliable satellite messaging during the expedition. The EIP team is relying heavily on social media to help raise awareness and education. Equipped with SPOT Satellite GPS Messengers and Delorme PN-60w with SPOT Communicators, the team will be sending custom messages and sharing important location coordinates with others from one of the most remote regions in the world. EP Films will produce a documentary film on the international ivory trade with a focus on African elephants and wildlife forensics to be distributed on television and as an independent film project. Material will also be produced for print media and photo exhibitions as well as to create an online and social media campaign to build public and political will for elephant conservation.