The KwaZulu Natal-based Thanda Safari Big Five game reserve has announced the development of AI-driven technology to effectively stop rhino poaching.
The KwaZulu Natal-based Thanda Safari Big Five game reserve has announced the development of AI-driven technology to effectively stop rhino poaching.
In the past, Thanda Safari used a variety of techniques, such as foot collars and horn pods, to keep an eye on its black and white rhino populations. A more complex solution was required due to the drawbacks of these approaches, such as the use of telemetry units that require line-of-sight and lack direct data recording or GPS functionality.
The recently created collars with AI capabilities continuously observe, analyse, and learn to recognise behavioural patterns unique to each rhino. The collar sends an immediate alert to rangers’ phones and uses GPS to pinpoint the exact location of the incident when it detects “abnormal” behaviour such as fighting, mating, giving birth, or illness.
This state-of-the-art technology enables quick response and investigation, enabling effective animal protection.
‘For security reasons, this system is crucial in helping us catch poachers in the act. Additionally, it generates valuable data for tracking rhino movements, and monitoring their health and all-around well-being, thereby enabling us to learn more about their habitats and differing home ranges. This is particularly relevant to the elusive Black Rhinos. Favouring thick bush, they are difficult to monitor, and as a result we can experience long periods with infrequent sightings,’ commented Mariana Venter, Wildlife Operations Co-Ordinator at Thanda Safari.
The dedication to conservation at Thanda Safari has long included knowledge exchange with other reserves and conservation initiatives as well as encouraging cooperation with the local community.
The installation of the AI-enabled rhino collars was witnessed by representatives from various reserves, highlighting Thanda Safari’s position as a pioneer in cutting-edge conservation programmes.
Statistics show how urgently needed conservation efforts are as a result of the rhino poaching crisis that South Africa is currently experiencing. South Africa alone lost 448 rhinos to poaching in 2022.
The adoption of cutting-edge AI-driven technology by Thanda Safari represents a significant advance in the fight against poaching and the preservation of these rhinos for future generations.