GPS Tracking Devices and Spy-Cams Aim to Curtail Rhino Poaching

12 Nov 2015

Researchers try to reduce rhino poaching by placing GPS tracking devices in their horns.

Poaching is not a new concept, but unfortunately the incidents are still occurring. Researchers want to try and reduce how often this happens by tracking animals that might be a target.

In South Africa, this includes the black rhinos. In 2015 alone, 749 black and white rhinos have lost their lives due to poaching. While it is less than the record-breaking 1,215 in 2014, it is not enough a decline. Since they are often poached for their horns, that is exactly where the tracking devices are being implanted. They are also using other technology to help track down the poachers, including spy cameras and heart rate monitors.

This new tracking project is being led by We Are Protect, a wildlife conservation group out of South Africa. The group is using what they call Real-Time Anti-Poaching Intelligence Devices (RAPID) to not only track the animals themselves, but the horns as well.

When a wild black rhino is caught humanely by the conservation group, they use a simple operation to implant the small tracking devices into their horns. This does not cause pain as their horns are made of keratin, similar to a human’s fingernails. Once the devices are programmed and inserted, all data is sent to a centralized control center where researchers can track the data live.

There is a heart rate monitor attached to the camera and tracking device. All three devices work in sync. So if a rhino is in danger, its heart rate usually rises or declines. When this happens, it triggers the small camera to turn on and view what is going on. This can also trigger the GPS tracking device. They hope that with the heart rate monitor and camera, they will be able to capture the poachers before harm is done to the animal. If not, they at least can track them down with the GPS tracker in the horns.

The question now is whether or not they will make it known that the project has begun and rhinos are being tracked. On the one hand, the research team hopes that a warning would cause poachers to think twice as they could get caught. However, they also worry that these poachers would simply find animals that are not tracked or other wild animals in general. To avoid this problem, they would like to track as many rhinos as they possibly can so the untagged rhinos don’t become a target.

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About George Karonis

George Karonis is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of LiveViewGPS Inc., a company he established in 2008 with the vision of making real-time GPS tracking more reliable, affordable, and accessible for businesses of all sizes. Over the past two decades, he has built a reputation as an innovator in GPS tracking, fleet management, asset monitoring, and Push-to-Talk over Cellular (PTToC) communications. Under George's leadership, LiveViewGPS has grown into a nationally recognized provider of GPS tracking solutions, serving businesses, government agencies, educational institutions, law enforcement organizations, and public works departments throughout the United States. The company's technology helps organizations improve operational efficiency, protect valuable assets, increase driver safety, and reduce operating costs through real-time location intelligence. Before founding LiveViewGPS, George developed a background in security, surveillance, and emerging location technologies. His passion for innovation and practical problem solving has driven the development of products that combine dependable hardware with easy-to-use cloud software, giving customers actionable information when it matters most. In 2018, George expanded into nationwide Push-to-Talk over Cellular communications by launching PeakPTT, providing businesses with rugged, instant communication solutions that operate over LTE and Wi-Fi networks. His focus has remained the same throughout his career: delivering dependable technology backed by exceptional customer service and long-term customer relationships. George regularly writes about GPS tracking, fleet management, asset protection, business technology, and communication systems. Through this blog, he shares industry insights, practical advice, and emerging trends to help organizations make informed decisions about tracking technology and connected operations.