S. African reserve launches anti-poaching surveillance system
Xinhua, December 8, 2016 Adjust font size:
South Africa's Kruger National Park (KNP) has launched a wide area surveillance system, known as the Postcode Meerkat, to counter the rise of illegal poaching there, it was announced Thursday.
The Postcode Meerkat comprises a mobile suite of radar and electro-optic sensors capable of detecting and tracking humans moving in the park over a wide area, according to the KNP, one of the biggest game parks in Africa.
It is the first time that this kind of technology is being applied to counter poaching in a bushveld environment.
"This will augment ranger reaction times, allow for better preparation and support the proactive apprehension of poachers, which could save the lives of both humans and animals," the KNP said in a statement.
It also has the future potential to be used in a conservation role, for example to better understand animal behaviour, according to the park.
The South African National Parks (SANParks), Peace Parks Foundation and South Africa's Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) have partnered to research, develop and manufacture this innovative system.
The KNP, which borders Mozambique and Zimbabwe, has seen a rise in illegl poaching, particularly the poaching of rhinos.
Last year alone, the park lost 826 rhinos. Nationwide, 1,175 rhinos were poached in 2015. Enditem