Air support for South African rhinos in battle against poachers
The aircraft will be used by rangers for monitoring the park’s
boundary fence from the air, in order to detect illegal
activities and to deter criminals from entering the park. With
the new technology, terrain that is inaccessible to vehicles,
where poachers often choose to operate, will now be easier to
monitor. “It is essential to stay ahead in terms of physical
presence, technology, equipment and intelligence,” said a member
of the reserve’s anti-poaching unit. “Experience in other parks
shows that once you have air support, success in anti-poaching
operations increases dramatically.” The ultralight aircraft uses
standard fuel and is cheaper to run than an all-terrain vehicle.
It can also take off and land on very small areas of land.
Existing runways and soccer fields in the park will be used as
landing-strips in order to minimize ecological impact. The Black
Rhino Range Expansion Project is a partnership between WWF,
Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife an