South Africa To Go High Tech In Fight Against Rhino Poachers

South Africa is expanding its use of technology to keep poachers away from rhinos. The country is keeping track of people coming in and out of a game reserve that is very near Kruger National Park. Authorities are tracking people regardless of how they enter and exit the park whether it be landing by helicopter, cutting through a fence or driving past a gate.

Project being tested

South African based Dimension Data has partnered with Cisco Systems in carrying out a test project. So far the two companies have finished the initial phase of rolling out a secure network in the reserve complete with Wi-Fi hotspots. The next stage will make use of infrared cameras, thermal imaging drones and vehicle tracking, so that even at night time, people’s movement can be tracked. The techniques being used will have no effect on the animals themselves such as darting rhinos to insert chips into their horns or under their skins.

Rhinos could be extinct in South Africa by 2025

In 2014 at least 1,215 rhinos were killed by poachers in South Africa said the country’s Department of Environmental Affairs. If poaching continues at that rate, by 2018, the number of rhino deaths will exceed the number of rhino births and by 2025, there could well be no rhinos left in South Africa according to a report.

“Every day, hundreds of staff, suppliers, contractors, security personnel and tourists enter and exit game reserves. The human activity in these environments is not monitored because, typically, the reserve is in a remote location with basic IT infrastructure and access control, manual security processes and very limited communication.” Dimension Data Group Executive Bruce Watson said in a statement.