{"id":62,"date":"2016-04-12T20:22:17","date_gmt":"2016-04-12T20:22:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cusjc.ca\/drones\/?page_id=62"},"modified":"2016-04-21T12:56:44","modified_gmt":"2016-04-21T12:56:44","slug":"monitoring-poaching-in-south-africa","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/drones\/monitoring-poaching-in-south-africa\/","title":{"rendered":"Monitoring poaching in South Africa"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section admin_label=”Section” fullwidth=”on” specialty=”off” transparent_background=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” custom_padding=”||0px|” padding_mobile=”on” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off”][et_pb_fullwidth_header admin_label=”Fullwidth Header” title=”Monitoring poaching in South Africa” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”center” header_fullscreen=”off” header_scroll_down=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” content_orientation=”center” image_orientation=”center” custom_button_one=”off” button_one_letter_spacing=”0″ button_one_use_icon=”default” button_one_icon_placement=”right” button_one_on_hover=”on” button_one_letter_spacing_hover=”0″ custom_button_two=”off” button_two_letter_spacing=”0″ button_two_use_icon=”default” button_two_icon_placement=”right” button_two_on_hover=”on” button_two_letter_spacing_hover=”0″ subhead=”In South Africa, non-profit Air Shepherd is using UAVs to stop poaching. Photo \u00a9 Air Shepherd” header_image_url=”http:\/\/cusjc.ca\/drones\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/AirShepherdDroneLaunch.png”] [\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n

Air Shepherd in South Africa<\/h2>\n

When John Petersen retired from the U.S. Naval Reserve in 1993, he knew wanted to use aviation to have a positive impact in the world. 23 years later, he couldn\u2019t have imagined how technological advances would help solve a problem that has existed for decades.<\/p>\n

In South Africa, Petersen, along with global aid foundation Air Shepherd, is using UAVs to help prevent the poaching of animals on reserves throughout the country.<\/p>\n

Petersen was helping a representative from the Kenya Wildlife Service purchase night vision goggles when the subject of poaching came up. The representative explained just how difficult it is for park rangers to protect the animals.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe rangers own the day, but the poachers own the night,\u201d says Petersen.<\/p>\n

The Problem<\/h2>\n

Poachers will often operate under very specific circumstances that are advantageous to them. Usually, they hunt late at night when there is a full moon in areas they know rhinos and elephants like to congregate. Watering holes are a common area where animals will gather exposing them to danger. At night, poachers are mobile, difficult to detect and have the ability to ambush rangers who patrol the reserves. Petersen, a Vietnam war veteran and avid aviator, recognized the potential of UAV technology to monitor illegal activities at night and reduce the number of animals being killed under these circumstances.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt occurred to me that UAVs would solve the problem because they have infrared cameras on them and they can fly at night, and they can see the thermal images of poachers,\u201d says Petersen.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re also cheaper and they make less noise\u201d<\/p>\n