Kenya Wildlife Service will now use smart phones to track endangered species of elephants, lions and cheetahs that are at risk of poaching.
In partnership with non-state actors, the wildlife agency is also using satellite-linked GPS collars to track the animals as it steps up conservation efforts.
The new system will also boost fight against illegal trade in endangered wildlife products through real-time surveillance of remote areas within conservancies.
KWS says it has installed camera traps and instantaneous satellite data transmission networks.
They are working with Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and Climate and Prediction Application Centre (ICPAC) to map Kenya’s wildlife protected areas.
Director General Kitili Mbathi said poacher’s activities will now be monitored to an extent that animals will be saved before they are slaughtered.
“We are working with International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) to set up the platform that collects and analyses data to help deal with choppers,” he said.
Mbathi added that over 1,000 rangers have been trained to use of global positioning systems that record important wildlife related incidents that they come across during their normal patrols.
He said that Kenya has tremendous wealth found in forests, woodlands, grasslands, wetlands and deserts that requires cutting-edge technology to conserve.
“Kenya has undertaken many initiatives in an effort to conserve and protect its biodiversity which include the formation of Kenya’s national environment secretariat (NES),” added Mbathi – The Star
