National parks and conservationists rely on GPS data to understand the resource needs and patterns of animals living in the wild.

They are now sharing that data by translating it into an augmented reality game called Safari Central, where “players track animals, based on their natural movements, in their own cities,” explains Quartz.

Gautam Shah, founder of Internet of Elephants, a US and Kenya-based start up making Safari Central, explained:

“Think of it as Pokemon Go, but where the animals are real animals, and where they move around a city based on their actual movements, not where we tell them to go.”

Shah says the game is the first to use real tracking data. They have data on elephants, lions, grizzly bears, jaguars, wolves, giant anteaters, frigate birds, vultures and other animals from organizations [sic] like WWF Brazil, Conservation International in the US, the Chicago Zoological Society, as well as conservation groups and parks based in Kenya and South Africa.

Check this video on the tracking of various animals:

The ultimate goal of the game is to “connect more people with the daily lives of animals and raise support for conservation efforts” because:

Conventional fundraising approaches are not reaching enough people or raising enough funds to turn the tide.

One way the app plans to raise funds is with in-app purchases that go towards conservation projects concerned with the animals the data is based on.

Here’s what you can expect:

The startup is currently holding a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for the game, and plans to release a preview of the app in August and a full launch in December 2018.

At least you wont be wasting your time like you did with Pokemon Go.

[source:qz]