Saving the rhino with the IoT: Cisco, Dimension data expand Africa project | Internet of Business
IoT technologies are rapidly becoming a useful weapon in the fight to save rhinos and elephants from poachers, writes Jessica Twentyman.
When Minister Edna Molewa from South Africa’s Department of Environmental Affairs announced rhino poaching numbers for the nation in January this year, there was good news and bad for conservationists.
On the positive side, poaching numbers saw a slight decline from the previous year: 1,028 rhinos were poached in 2017, compared to 1,054 in 2016. However, losses still remain unacceptably high, and while poaching was down in Kruger National Park, it rose significantly in other provinces, especially KwaZulu-Natal.
On top of that, the outlook for rhino population growth continues to be severely impacted by poaching and the culprits are proving adept at changing their target sites and trafficking strategies.