Can tracking poop actually bring change? We think so! The Epicocity Project recently completed their six week trek in the Democratic Republic of Congo for the Elephant Ivory Project. The team spent their expedition identifying the locations and types of endangered elephants being poached for illegal ivory trade by collecting samples of elephant poop and even managed to avoid a gun fight in the dangerous areas of the jungle.

“There was a shootout. Andy and I weren’t there, but we learned through satellite text messages that Colonel Gui and his soldiers from the Congolese army ran into the bandits somewhere between Kisangani and Obenge. They were likely the brothers of Colonel Toms, a convicted war criminal and poacher. A gunfight ensued. One poacher was injured and two others were apprehended.”

The team documented their findings through journal entries, photo, video and SPOT Adventures. EP utilized SPOT satellite technology in the remote areas of Africa. Because SPOT uses 100% satellite technology, EP is able to send short updates to their ground crews and even their Facebook profile from remote areas. SPOT was also there to track the team’s progress in Africa and send messages through SPOT Satellite GPS Messengers.

Check out amazing photos from the Elephant Ivory Project on SPOT Adventures. Follow that page for more adventures and stories to be loaded from the project.

Read the latest blog from EIP on National Geographic.

For more information, go to www.elephantivoryproject.org.