In an increasingly fast-changing world, wildlife conservation must evolve to keep pace. While boots-on-the-ground efforts remain critical and will continue to be the cornerstone of protective measures, technology must be used to its full potential to make these efforts successful, writes Peter Knights, CEO of Wild Africa Fund.
“With arguably the greatest wildlife left on the planet, Africa is leading, and must continue to lead, in adoption of these new tools,” writes Knights. From the sky above, drones equipped with high-resolution cameras and thermal imaging are enabling ATS rangers to locate poachers at night and in challenging terrain, while GPS dog collars help track trained canines during pursuit missions. Strategic planning and informed deployment of resources are enhanced by its digital mapping software, which provides a comprehensive overview of protected areas and locations of wildlife and illegal activity hotspots.
“Equipping these free-tracking hounds with miniature cameras and heat signature technology, as an example, could provide valuable situational awareness and improve overall mission effectiveness,” writes Knights.Technology plays a crucial role in various aspects of wildlife conservation beyond anti-poaching. The Wildlife Conservation Society in Nigeria utilises automated camera traps to capture important information about wildlife populations and behaviour.