AMBROS/D35656

“Literally ahead of the game with tracking endangered wildlife.” Dr Simon Morgan, Wildlife ACT

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Let Vodacom’s Machine-to-Machine technology help your initiative get the monitoring traction it needs. Contact us at: 082 1930 vodacom.co.za/business

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Introduction Summary Workflow Benefits The Solution

South Africa is blessed with an Wildlife ACT actively advances Says Austin, “Through a number abundance of game and its game conservation by initiating, description The SMS system, implemented of expensive field trials we have reserves are some of the most implementing, managing and by Vodacom, was robust and identified that GSM technology well-stocked on the planet. funding equipment for monitoring One of the most intensive durable enough to deliver can provide valuable movement data projects on wildlife reserves in day-to-day monitoring needs was several key benefits. on these vulnerable animals. Initial Game reserves are not only crucial to Africa which do not have the means the wetlands area around St Lucia trials showed us how our perception protecting our planet’s species but are to do so themselves – and they do in KwaZulu-Natal. There are several Wildlife ACT Fund is a not for profit trust of what would work was far off the also vital to providing much needed jobs, so FREE of charge. private game reserves in this area that focuses on the following key mark of life in the wild. Product especially in rural areas. The challenge and they can be regarded as a conservation elements: revisions, operational changes, and to sustainably maintain these reserves Wildlife tracking and monitoring of • Finding and funding the right equipment is to effectively monitor threatened and whole with regards to some species, also extensive work on the collars endangered animals and wildlife species needed to effectively monitor endangered species. as there are species which are has now put us in a position where is a critical step in their conservation. not stopped by fences and roam endangered and threatened species we believe we have a wholly South It is very difficult to conserve something • Delivering time and expertise to provide which you don’t know you have and/or freely between reserves. This area African solution that is viable for adequate management, capture, whether conservation efforts are effective has an unprecedented amount of tracking of Wild Dog and other transport and reintroduction of these in growing populations. Unfortunately, wiresnare poaching which results in endangered or vulnerable animals.” animals to new areas many African game reserves do not have a tremendous amount of ‘by-catch’ Morgan concludes, “To fund our projects, the capacity to run effective wildlife • Implementing anti-poaching measures Vodacom played an important role in the – specifically the endangered Wildlife ACT uses a number of fund monitoring programmes and require and technology in the field project. “Firstly,” says Austin, “we needed African Painted Dog (Wild Dog) and generating models, including grant assistance to ensure this vital component robust SIM chips that could be soldered onto • Helping rural communities who live applications, donor funding, sponsorship of conservation is carried-out. threatened cheetah are at harm. the electronic board in the collar, be reliable alongside protected wildlife areas to programmes and we run a unique, focused Vodacom’s Machine-to-Machine and withstand life in the wild – moisture, dirt, develop a love and respect for nature, wildlife volunteer programme. Volunteers technology tracks wildlife so people These two species are very susceptible to etc. Then, because there are no volumes of provide them with reasons to protect it, who join in important conservation work can help protect them. wire poaching and as a result the current people in any game reserve, there was almost and advance economic empowerment get both a wildlife experience and make a Painted Dog pack already has two females zero GSM coverage. Vodacom resolved both contribution through their time, efforts and with 3 legs and a number of pack members They are currently focused in Zululand, these issues for us as part of their Corporate funds at the same time. Wildlife volunteers missing. Following this, the unprecedented an area that resounds with the heartbeat Social and Environment programmes.” assist our monitors in their daily tracking and increase in rhino poaching in South Africa of Africa and one of the most diverse and monitoring of endangered wildlife species over the last few years has caused alarm productive wild lands on the planet. “We initially tried tracking via GPRS only for such as the African Wild Dog, cheetah, as in the conservation community, and the transfer of tracking data, and it was a total In 2011, Vodacom Partner UTrackIT well as priority species like the elephant, tracking of these animals is now more failure. Once we made the switch to SMS , became involved with Wildlife ACT in lion, leopard and many more. Wildlife important than ever before. the whole project turned around in a major designing a tracking and monitoring system volunteers get far more than the typical way. SMS is much more reliable and provides using GSM technology in wildlife tracking, safari experience, playing an active role in UTrackIT were faced with a number the data transmission we require. It is likely specifically in the St Lucia Wetlands area, conservation. Many are lucky enough to of challenges: this will be the first product in the market that in Zululand, where there are some of the experience anything from trapping and • Battery life and weight on the collars is totally South African made (collars) and last remaining packs of Wild Dog. radio collaring or tagging animals for their designed (tracking electronics). And all at an • Alerts as to failing batteries relocation or re-introduction.” UTrackIT is a South African privately-owned affordable price using GSM as the data carrier. • Ensuring the collars could not be technology company that provides their Other suppliers offer on-device storage “Thanks to UTrackIT and Vodacom, we are removed by the animal itself customers with affordable tracking and for later retrieval, short-range data pull ahead of the game, so to speak, with our • Remote areas where GSM coverage was monitoring systems – these include vehicle (Bluetooth, WiFi), or satellite transmission.” tracking and monitoring of endangered sparse tracking for individuals and fleets, and species. Technology and wildlife are long term asset monitoring. “It is our hope that we can provide a good • The SIM card in the collars had to working together in a unique project.” solution for our endangered species, and we withstand ‘rough’ treatment and UTrackIT Managing Director Robert Austin have treated the three year project as our conditions says the journey with Wildlife ACT to adapt their technology to protect and monitor small way of ensuring the system may Let Vodacom’s Machine-to-Machine • A complete solution for tracking and these endangered animals has been both be used for good,” he says. technology help your initiative get the monitoring had to be designed to provide a learning process and passion. monitoring traction it needs. specific information for Wildlife ACT Contact us at: 082 1930 vodacom.co.za/business

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