Surveillance System Used to Deter Rhino Poachers

Surveillance System Used to Deter Rhino Poachers

  • By Ginger Hill
  • Jul 21, 2015

The use of security cameras for protection is so diverse that it’s actually seeping into the animal kingdom! UK conservationists have created a system using GPS tags, heart rate monitors and embedded cameras to deter poachers from slaughtering rhinos.

Adequately named the Real-time Poaching Intelligence Device (RAPID) and created by British nonprofit Protect, this device is currently being tested in South Africa. Unfortunately, rhino populations are dwindling there due to threats from poachers seeking their horns.

RAPID relies on heart rate monitors that are embedded under the skin of the rhinos. If the rhino’s heart rate increases or decreases, RAPID sends an alert to operators at a control desk who immediately activate a tiny camera implanted into the horn of the rhino. If live camera footage reveals the rhino is in harm’s way, a GPS attached to the rhino’s neck with a leather collar, reveals to park authorities exactly where the helpless rhino is located so they can come to their aid by deploying anti-poaching forces.

The following video shows life from the eyes of a Rhino!

More than 1,200 rhinos were killed in South Africa last year which equals one rhino death every eight hours. The hope is that RAPID will act as a deterrent to poachers and help make keeping these creatures safe for years to come. Protect also hopes to adapt RAPID to other endangered/threatened species, like elephants, lions and whales. A version for tigers is already in development.

About the Author

Ginger Hill is Group Social Media Manager.

Featured

  • New Report Reveals Top Security Risks for U.S. Retail Chains

    Interface Systems, a provider of security, actionable insights, and purpose-built networks for multi-location businesses, has released its 2024 State of Remote Video Monitoring in Retail Chains report. The detailed study analyzed over 2 million monitoring requests across 4,156 retail locations in the United States from September 2023 to August 2024. Read Now

  • Gaining a Competitive Edge

    Ask most companies about their future technology plans and the answers will most likely include AI. Then ask how they plan to deploy it, and that is where the responses may start to vary. Every company has unique surveillance requirements that are based on market focus, scale, scope, risk tolerance, geographic area and, of course, budget. Those factors all play a role in deciding how to configure a surveillance system, and how to effectively implement technologies like AI. Read Now

  • 6 Ways Security Awareness Training Empowers Human Risk Management

    Organizations are realizing that their greatest vulnerability often comes from within – their own people. Human error remains a significant factor in cybersecurity breaches, making it imperative for organizations to address human risk effectively. As a result, security awareness training (SAT) has emerged as a cornerstone in this endeavor because it offers a multifaceted approach to managing human risk. Read Now

  • The Stage is Set

    The security industry spans the entire globe, with manufacturers, developers and suppliers on every continent (well, almost—sorry, Antarctica). That means when regulations pop up in one area, they often have a ripple effect that impacts the entire supply chain. Recent data privacy regulations like GDPR in Europe and CPRA in California made waves when they first went into effect, forcing businesses to change the way they approach data collection and storage to continue operating in those markets. Even highly specific regulations like the U.S.’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) can have international reverberations – and this growing volume of legislation has continued to affect global supply chains in a variety of different ways. Read Now

Most   Popular

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions. 3

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area. 3

  • 4K Video Decoder

    3xLOGIC’s VH-DECODER-4K is perfect for use in organizations of all sizes in diverse vertical sectors such as retail, leisure and hospitality, education and commercial premises. 3