Drone war on poachers
Aerial surveillance latest tool to flush out illegal hunters in Kruger Park
THE KRUGER National Park and various partners have invested R16 million in drone technology that is able to detect poachers on their grounds. It is uncertain whether this decision was influenced by a field ranger being shot and wounded on Sunday afternoon after an altercation with suspected armed poachers in Kruger National Park.
SANParks confirmed yesterday that after contact was made with three suspected poachers in Houtboschrand section of the Park, shots ensued as field ranger Killers Ubisi tried to apprehend the suspects.
He was shot and wounded in the arm and was subsequently airlifted to a medical facility in Nelspruit. During the contact, one of the poachers was fatally wounded and two managed to escape.
KNP managing executive Glenn Phillips said Ubisi was in a stable condition. “Field ranger Ubisi is an endearing member of our Ranger Corps and we would like to wish him a speedy recovery.”
No arrests have been made as yet, and SANParks, with the support of the police, is currently conducting follow-up investigations into the incident.
The chief executive of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and Drone Solutions, Otto Werdmuller Von Elgg, said: “Over the next 12 months we will be evaluating the effectiveness of drones in the fight against wildlife crime.”
Werdmuller Von Elgg said the drones could operate anywhere in the park. “They fly for about two-and-a-half hours looking for poachers. The drones aren’t allowed to fly more than 400m above ground.”
He said there was a correlation between where the drones flew and a downward pressure of poaching activity. However, the technology hadn’t yielded any arrests yet.
Werdmuller Von Elgg said they were the first organisation to be given a commercial licence to operate drones, which meant that they were allowed to fly beyond the visual line of sight.
“Drone technology in the country is still in the early stages. More technology is expected to improve,” Werdmuller Von Elgg said. “It is like the the cellphone business… there is stuff we haven’t even thought of. The technology is getting smaller, lighter and cheaper.”
Phillips said SANParks wascommitted to doing everything in its power to fight the scourge of poaching. “We would like to encourage members of the public to report poaching or other wildlife criminal activities to 013 735 0197 or 076 801 9679 to ensure that those who commit these deeds are brought to book.” – ANA