How technology will help save Rhinos
September 22 is World Rhino Day, and as my co-author, Major General (Ret) Johan Jooste and I recently released our book, 'Rhino War', I thought it was worth shining a light on one of the key components of protecting this endangered, iconic species - technology.
In 'Rhino War', the true story of Johan's time in command of the Kruger National Park's ranger corps in the most dire days of the fight to save South Africa's rhinos, and beyond, we examine the role of technology. Johan oversaw the introduction of ground-breaking new systems, including the phenomenally successful Meerkat wide area surveillance system.
Some of the new technology worked and some didn't. Johan is honest about the lessons learned and we cover the subject in detail in the book.
Under Johan Jooste's command, and in the period immediately after, when his strategy started to bear fruit, the number of rhinos being killed came down. No one is saying the fight is over or the war was won, but his time in command of the Kruger Park's anti-poaching operations provides valuable lessons for the future.
Today, 10 years after Johan was first parachuted into the war to save the rhino, he has recently been involved in the release of an updated technology roadmap that outlines how technology should be applied to protecting the environment and a species. The roadmap also gives a glimpse of what future technology might look like.
One of the lessons Johan espouses is this: "technology makes things possible, people make things happen".
Here's a media release we put together for World Rhino Day, 2022
HI-TECH FUTURE FOR RHINO PROTECTION
The future of rhino protection could see mobile balloons bristling with radar and long-range sensors; rhinos fitted with electronic and radioactive tags; real-time satellite tracking of people and animals, and rangers in 'smart armour' flying personal aviation vehicles.
Retired Major General Johan Jooste, speaking on the eve of World Rhino Day (September 22), said a new anti-poaching Technology Road Map, recently presented to stakeholders for comment, stressed that conservationists should pursue the technology they need, rather than what donors and others 'want'.
Jooste recently released his memoir Rhino War, co-written with Australian thriller writer Tony Park, and published by Pan Macmillan South Africa.
Jooste was recruited by SANParks in 2012 to take on the role of Chief Ranger in the Kruger Park at a time when rhino poaching was at its devastating peak. Through a process of para-militarisation of Kruger's ranger corps, implementation of a clear strategy and increasing the use of air assets, dogs and technology, the 'runaway train' of poaching was slowed.
"In Kruger we learned valuable lessons about the implementation of new technology, and why some of it worked and some of it didn't," Jooste said.
Jooste said that hi-tech monitoring and detection systems needed to be sustainable, with money set aside for maintenance or a contract awarded for the supply and ongoing operation of a system, rather than a park or reserve necessarily owning the system.
"Rangers need to be brought along on the technology journey as well, with appropriate training, but if maintaining a system takes up too much of rangers' time then it's better if operation is outsourced."
Jooste said that wildlife guardians needed to be cautious of 'industry push' and 'donor pull', with suppliers forcing new technology on customers and NGO's being seduced by 'sexy' new technology.
"Drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles, are a prime example of this," Jooste said. In his book, 'Rhino War', about his time in command in the Kruger Park, Jooste spoke of 'drone fever' in which many stakeholders thought UAVs would be the silver bullet to save rhinos.
"There is and will be a role for drones, as their range and payload capacity improves, but in Kruger we found that a ground based radar system, Project Meerkat, was the best solution for detecting and monitoring incursions by poachers."
Jooste was instrumental in pushing for the development of Meerkat, a home-grown system pioneered by CSIR, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. He said the 'next generation' Meerkat could be mobile, using an aerostat – a lighter than air balloon – fitted with radar and other sensors and tethered to a truck which could be moved around a reserve or from park to park.
Great strides were made in Kruger in improving communications between rangers, aircraft and neighbouring reserves, with operations coordinated by a purpose-built Joint Operations Centre, at the park's headquarters, Skukuza.
"The rangers of the near future will be even better connected, wearing 'smart' lightweight body armour fitted with sensors; heads up displays delivering information via glass monocles; smart watches and arm-mounted satellite devices; and effective but non-lethal weapons.
"We could even see rangers riding silently through the bush on electric bikes, or flying in individual Personal Aviation Vehicles, skimming across the bush at treetop level."
He said the sky literally was the limit in protecting rhinos, with satellites, aircraft balloons and flying rangers all watching over their charges.
'Rhino War' is available in bookstores and online in South Africa, and in the rest of the world online only in ebook and print formats. It will soon be released worldwide as an audio book. You can find more information on the book and my other novels and biographies at www.tonypark.net
