Elephants are the largest land mammals and are herbivores, consuming between 100 to 200 kilograms of food and about 230 liters of water daily. Their home ranges can span up to 11,000 square kilometres. They rely on traditional knowledge passed down through generations to locate food and water sources—knowledge that is lost if elder elephants in the herd die.

Elephants face endangerment from multiple threats. They are targeted by poachers for their tusks, captured for social status or circus use, and their habitats are increasingly threatened by environmental changes such as global warming, altered rainfall patterns, deforestation, and mining. Habitat degradation forces elephants to migrate, often bringing them into conflict with humans as they enter settlements and farmlands, and putting them at risk from electric fences and traps.

Monitoring elephant movements is vital for their protection and conservation. Aerial imagery provides an effective, non-intrusive way to track elephants over large areas without disturbing their natural behaviour. This deep learning model automates elephant detection from high-resolution aerial imagery, making large-scale monitoring more efficient and reliable.