Despite our best efforts the number of rhinos being slaughtered for their horns in South Africa continues to spiral out of control. It seems we are not the only ones trying to remedy the situation, however, as a British team have now designed a camera that can be installed inside a rhino’s horn and they believe it could be a real game-changer.

Complete with a GPS tracker and a heart-rate monitor the team believe that the system, which triggers an alarm as soon as the rhino is shot, will greatly increase the chances of capturing poachers red-handed. Below from the Scotsman:

Video footage captured by the miniature horn camera will then provide the evidence needed to secure a conviction. The hope is that the technology, which could be trialled in South Africa in the next six to nine months…

Dr Paul O’Donoghue, who developed the Protect RAPID (Real-time Anti Poaching Intelligence Device) system and has worked with endangered black rhino populations for more than 15 years, said: “Currently a rhino is butchered every six hours in Africa. The issues are many, but there’s far too much money at stake to believe that legislation alone can make the difference…

With this device, the heart-rate monitor triggers the alarm the instant a poaching event occurs, pin-pointing the location within a few metres so that rangers can be on the scene via helicopter or truck within minutes, leaving poachers no time to harvest the valuable parts of an animal or make good an escape”.

Here’s hoping this system can turn the tide in the battle against poaching, although it might also help if our judicial system hopped on board and stopped letting those responsible walk free.

[sources:bbc&scotsman]