LIMPOPO – The battle against poaching is becoming increasingly advanced as anti-poaching organisations embrace modern technology.

Tools once designed for home and business security, such as cameras, drones, radars, and acoustic sensors, are now being deployed to protect wildlife.

A local organisation specialising in anti-poaching efforts told the Herald that trail cameras have been instrumental in recent arrests.

“Without the cameras, it would have been extremely difficult to track the poachers,” a representative explained. “More and more anti-poaching teams are using technology to work more efficiently. Trail cameras help us monitor remote areas, while drones are useful both day and night for detecting suspicious activity. Radars can even identify snares, allowing us to plan operations more effectively. New technologies are also being developed, and so far, they have proven successful.”

Poaching, however, persists for various reasons. Some individuals hunt illegally to obtain meat for personal consumption or to sell to locals and butchers. Others target wildlife for traditional medicine, ornaments, or jewellery, particularly in parts of Asia, where horns and tusks are also viewed as symbols of wealth and status.

In recent months, vultures have emerged as a new target. Don English, Sanparks regional ranger at Nxanatseni in the Kruger National Park, explained why: “Vultures circle over carcasses, which alerts rangers to possible poaching activity. When rangers see the birds, they can rush to the area and sometimes catch poachers attempting to flee. This behaviour threatens the poachers’ operations, which is why they often try to kill the vultures.”