Dimension Data and Cisco take anti-poaching technology into Africa
The reserve is monitored 24/7 from the control room

Dimension Data and Cisco take anti-poaching technology into Africa

Global technology giants Dimension Data and Cisco are to expand their anti-poaching Connected Conservation programme into Zambia, Kenya, and Mozambique to continue protecting rhino, as well as help fight the war on the startling number of African savanna elephant being poached.

This move follows a successful pilot which saw the two companies install some of the world’s most sophisticated technology in a private game reserve located next to the world-renowned Kruger National Park in South Africa.

Since the technology for Connected Conservation was deployed in the private reserve in November 2015, the number of rhino poaching incidents has been reduced by 96% and last year, no rhino in the reserve was poached.

“Many organisations have committed to protecting animals through various reactive initiatives, such as dehorning, or inserting sensors in the horn and under the subcutaneous layer of skin,” said Dimension Data Group Executive Bruce Watson.

“However, the problem with reactive initiatives is that by the time the reserve rangers reach the animal, it has been killed and the rhino horn or elephant tusks have been hacked off.”

With the Connected Conservation model, the technology is designed to proactively protect the land against humans. The animals are not touched and are left to roam freely while a ‘layered’ effect of sophisticated technology, people and gadgets protect them.

Cisco and Dimension Data’s vision is to replicate the solution to protect all forms of endangered species including lion, pangolin, elephant, tigers in India and Asia, as well as sharks and sea rays in the ocean. The next project is already underway in an unnamed park in Zambia, which will be followed by Kenya and Mozambique with a strong focus on protecting elephant.

A control room for Zambia’s special marine unit is being built to monitor operations across the lake and in the park and a second marine unit powerboat will be deployed to assist with intercepts before poachers get to the animals.

  • Fixed thermal cameras mounted on radio masts which creates a permanent, virtual barrier on  the park’s perimeter. The cameras which scan the park’s entry and exit gates are controlled by operators located in the control room
  • CCTV analytics will be deployed to create a virtual trip-line that automatically detects the movement of fishermen and boats on the lake. Over time, park officials will be able to analyse the data and build a pattern of movement, as well as alert operators when there’s night-time movement across the barrier
  • Outdoor Wi-Fi will also be mounted on the radio masts so that handheld devices and thermal cameras used by the rangers and security teams can be viewed and shared and staff on the ground will be able to connect and communicate without their conversations being intercepted by poachers

Cisco Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Karen Walker, said, “More than ever before, technology has given us the ability to change the world – not tomorrow, not someday, but now. At Cisco, we’re dedicated to making a difference by connecting the world and protecting the oldest and most vulnerable animals with some of the newest connectivity technology.

“Working closely with Dimension Data, we’ve established a secure, reliable network that operates 24 hours daily across game reserves in South Africa and Africa. We are extremely proud to be part of the expansion of Connected Conservation into Africa, to save more endangered species.”

The Connected Conservation technology includes digital infrastructure, hybrid cloud, digital workplace, and cybersecurity.

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