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Published on Thursday, November 3, 2016

Drones Save Endangered Animals

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Drones Save Endangered Animals
Last month we reported that dogs were being trained to track illegal ivory and help stop poachers. Now, the fight against poachers has turned to technology for help.  In national parks across Africa, drones are now being utilized to protect endangered species. 

How drones can help
Thomas Snitch, a professor at the University of Maryland, thinks that drones and technology in general are a great place for parks and animal welfare groups to turn, especially when current methods are not keeping the animals safe.  Snitch partnered with Air Shepherd, an anti-poaching program, that is piloting drones across the continent.

Drones are especially useful in areas, such as Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park, where borders are more porous, the park is understaffed and the few staff employed don’t have the resources or equipment to protect their animals. Drones are able to cover large stretches of land unmanned and relay real-time information of what is happening on the ground to park rangers. 

The dangers facing endangered animals

Poaching is sadly not a new problem facing African national parks. However, despite the work of anti-poaching advocacy groups, the demand for illegal ivory from elephant tusks and for rhino horns continues to grow. The demand is particularly high in the Asian market, where some groups believe rhino horns have medicinal properties that can cure everything from a hangover to cancer. Rhino horn sells for the staggering amount of $30,000/lb.

Unfortunately, poachers have begun using new methods to slay the endangered elephants and rhinos.  In a recent incident in Hwange Park, eight elephant carcasses were found near a local watering hole without their tusks.  It is presumed that they died from cyanide poison that was found in their water. This new method of poisoning animals with cyanide has already claimed hundreds of elephants in recent years. 

If poaching remains at its current rate, the African Elephant will be extinct by 2020.  Between 2007 and 2014, elephant populations decreased by 30% in 15 African countries.  Rhinos will not be far behind with an extinction date of 2026. Over 5000 African Rhinos have died at the hands of poachers since 2009.

Results from using drones so far

Air Shepherd decided that enough was enough with the poaching problem. They lept into action and brought their fleet of 25 drones with them. Already active in South Africa, Air Shepherd expanded their efforts into Malawi and Zimbabwe this September. They have plans to include Botswana, Mozambique and Zambia in the near future. At present, the drones fly over national parks in order to patrol for poachers. Otto Werdmuller Von Elgg, the CEO of Drone Solutions who is partnering with Air Shepherd, explains that there have been promising results from nighttime drone surveillance. For example, in South Africa’s Kruger National Park, no rhinos were killed during a six month period with drone surveillance. Previous to the implementation of drones, 19 had been killed in the area. It has been suggested that even the mere presence of a drone can deter poachers from continuing to prey on endangered animals.

A note of caution on drones

Despite the success of the drone program and promising uses, some organizations are proceeding with caution. Save The Rhino agrees that drones can be useful monitoring tools but worries that their astronomical cost, each drone is between $50,000 - $250,000, makes them inaccessible to many groups. They also worry that implementing drones requires having skillful drone operators and rangers who can act on knowledge obtained by the drone. 

Despite these concerns, the Zimbabwe Park and Wildlife Management Authority has invited Air Shepherd into Hwange National Park to begin test flights. Hopefully, this next step in anti-poaching efforts that utilizes the best of modern technology is a step that is going to make a meaningful difference in saving the lives of African Elephants and Rhinos. 
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Author: Ccarrell

Categories: Blogs, Technology, Animals & Wildlife

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