Aerial Wing support
Aerial surveillance is an effective tool that is used to combat poaching and gain intelligence from the air. Conserv Earth is supporting the Southern African Wildlife College with 2 hours of flying time each month. The hours in the air are used for reacting to poaching incidents and deploying field rangers and the K9 Unit into the field. The plane is also used for gathering statistical data on threatened species and their movements, thereby allowing for better informed personnel on the ground.
In the past three years (Feb 2019 – Feb 2022) the aerial unit has flown a total of 2692 hours. 1367 of these hours were spent on conservation operations such as rhino monitoring, dehorning and research. 718 hours were dedicated to anti-poaching, 607 hours for student training and 7 rhino orphans were rescued.
PROJECT GOALS
- Improve security in the Greater Kruger National Park through increased aerial surveillance.
- Gather relevant statistical data on wildlife populations and movement
- Provide information for the better deployment of rangers
- Train wildlife pilots
- Provide airwing support to help counter poaching operations
PROJECT OUTCOMES
- Improved security in the Greater Kruger National Park
- The gathering of cost effective, real-time information from the air including statistical data on threatened species and their movements is also enabled, thereby allowing for better informed personnel on the ground within the Greater Kruger National Park in support of protecting threatened wildlife species.
