Drones Hunt Down Poachers in South Africa

Megan Elliott

Thursday, June 09, 2016 at 11:24 PM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Air Shepherd employs advanced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with infrared cameras to remotely monitor and deter wildlife poaching in high-risk African regions.
The UAVs transmit live footage to ground teams, enabling rangers to intercept poachers, and their undetectable presence acts as a strong deterrent, significantly reducing illegal activity, particularly at night.
This initiative, a Lindbergh Foundation project, has shown considerable success in South Africa and plans to expand to other African countries, upholding a legacy of balancing technology with environmental preservation.

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In the midst of Africa’s poaching crisis, a dedicated group of aviators may have uncovered a solution to ending this illegal practice. Air Shepherd, an initiative of the Lindbergh Foundation, is flying advanced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in high-risk areas in South Africa — and soon, other countries on the continent.