Can new technology save dwindling rhino population from poachers?

Conservationists are testing drones, thermal cameras, helicopters and sensors — equipment usually associated with conventional warfare — in the fight against wildlife poachers in Africa.

Dimension Data, a South African technology company, partnered with networking firm Cisco to start a two-phase project that tracks vehicles and people entering the reserve located next to Kruger National Park. The aim is to identify poachers and track them down before they kill.

Because South Africa is home to about 70% of the remaining rhinos in the world, most of which are located in Kruger National Park, it made sense to use the space as a pilot project, Bruce Watson, who leads Dimension Data's relationship with Cisco, told USA TODAY.

About 85% of the poaching of Africa rhinos since 2008 also occurred in South Africa.

“Our initiative is focused on a more proactive approach that focuses less on the animal and more heavily on the movement of people in the game reserve. ... It will eliminate human error and tighten physical security throughout the reserve,” Watson said.

For security reasons the name of the private reserve has not be revealed, Watson said. But Dimension Data confirmed it is about 150,000 acres, and rhinos are able to roam freely in the reserve.

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Poachers killed at least 1,338 rhinos across Africa in 2015, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Since 2008, nearly 6,000 African rhinos have been killed by poachers. Still, about 3 rhinos are killed a day in South Africa, according to the World Wildlife Fund.

The number of white rhinos appears to have leveled off in Africa, with an estimated 19,700 to 21,000 existing last year, the nature group reported. The group lists the black rhino as critically endangered, with about 5,000 left.

Although international trade in rhino horn has been banned since 1977, demand is particularly high, especially in Southeast Asia for medicinal products, according to the World Wildlife Fund.

Rhino horn sells for $132,000 a pound, the WWF said. That's six times the value of a pound of gold.

“Most of those rhinos were killed in Kruger National Park, and that is because most of the poachers came and still are coming from neighboring Mozambique,” said Bas Huijbregts of the World Wildlife Fund.

The first phase of the project is up and running, allowing the reserve to gather information to track and monitor individuals who enter and exit the protected area. The data are collected by biometric scanning and closed-circuit television technology (CCTV). Since the data is stored in the cloud, rangers are able to retrieve information through different devices and make quick decisions if there is a threat alert, according to Dimension Data.

The second phase of the operation is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2016. 
It consists of incorporating seismic sensors on the ground, thermal imaging, drone cameras in the sky and helicopters dispatched with armed response, Dimension Data said. The high-tech arsenal would be used to track and apprehend poachers.

However, conservationists also raise concerns about poachers finding new ways to get to rhino horns despite innovative technology.

Huijbregts said the hunters "are becoming really professional."

“Poor rural people are being (used) by criminal gangs to do the poaching. ... Very often it’s one hunter with one tracker and one porter going in at night when there is no moon and getting out again early in the morning. They make no fire, they don’t stay, so they are very mobile, very quick, so it’s very difficult to detect them,” he said.

Poachers typically use a high-powered rifle with a silencer to kill the rhino with one bullet to avoid having to follow the wounded animal. Once the animal is down, the poacher cuts the horn with a saw and leaves the rest of the animal behind.

He said in addition to technological solutions, community support and government accountability are needed to protect the areas.

"The tools are just one thing, but no tool replaces good management on the ground,” Huijbregts said.