EarthRanger: Safeguarding Wildlife with Advanced Tracking Technology
Discover how EarthRanger, a cutting-edge tracking tool, is revolutionizing wildlife monitoring by providing real-time insights. Conservation efforts in Kenya are benefiting from this technology, aiding in the protection of endangered species.
It’s early morning in Sera Community Conservancy in Northern Kenya. The sunlight shines brightly on the vast semi-arid landscape. The only sounds for miles are the chirping of birds and the crunching of boots. Dr. Mukami Ruoro-Oundo, a Kenyan wildlife veterinarian, leads a team as they carefully track white rhinos - the first of their kind to be discovered in Samburu County.
In the early 1990s, the rhino population in Northern Kenya was greatly reduced by poaching. However, there has been a positive turnaround. The black rhino population in the country has more than doubled since 1989. As of December 2022, there were a total of 1,900 black and white rhinos in Kenya, as reported by Kenya Wildlife Services.
Sera Conservancy has been a key player in Kenya's community-driven rhino conservation initiatives. Back in 2015, it made history by establishing East Africa's first community rhino sanctuary. Initially home to 10 critically endangered black rhinos, the sanctuary has now seen this number increase to 21. These majestic creatures freely roam across 107 square kilometers (41 square miles) of dedicated sanctuary land. In a heartwarming development in February 2024, four white rhinos from the nearby Lewa Conservancy joined the black rhinos in their new home.
Dr. Ruoro-Oundo embarks on a foot patrol in search of the rhinos. During her search, she comes across two female white rhinos. One of them, named Sarah, appears to be heavily pregnant. However, as the vet approaches for a closer look, she realizes that something is amiss.
Gertrude Kitongo/CNN
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She chooses to take a different approach in order to avoid intruding on the rhinos' territory and to minimize unnecessary intervention. Using a conservation technology tool called EarthRanger, she is able to monitor Sarah's movements in real time from a safe distance.
Before the translocation process, GPS tags were attached to each of the four white rhinos in their horns and ears. These tags send real-time location updates to remote devices such as mobile phones, as well as to the conservancy's operations center. This allows Dr. Ruoro-Oundo to track Sarah's location and movements effectively.
As EarthRanger’s co-founder Jake Wall tells CNN, “It’s exactly like a ‘Find my Friends’ for rhino.”
Jake Wall of EarthRanger (right) and vet Mukami Ruoro-Oundo reviewing the EarthRanger tool.
Jake Wall of EarthRanger (right) and vet Mukami Ruoro-Oundo reviewing the EarthRanger tool.
Jo Munnik for CNN
Sparse internet connectivity has caused Dr. Ruoro-Oundo to struggle in receiving a clear signal from Sarah's transmitter. However, Sarah is not alone in her time of need; a female rhino named Arot has remained by her side. Through Arot's transmitter, Dr. Ruoro-Oundo observes that Sarah has shown minimal movement for hours, indicating a worsening condition. To assess the situation further, the team utilizes a drone to capture images of Sarah, confirming the urgent need for assistance.
Upon closer examination, Dr. Ruoro-Oundo discovers that Sarah is suffering from a fecal impaction, causing significant swelling in the rectal and vulvar areas. Sarah is visibly in distress, unable to lower her tail and displaying signs of sluggishness. It is evident that Sarah is experiencing discomfort and pain, requiring immediate intervention to alleviate her suffering and ensure her well-being.
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An emergency intervention led by Kenya Wildlife Services and Sera Conservancy’s management and rangers is quickly activated. Within hours, air, ground, and extra veterinary support are mobilized, providing hope for Sarah and her unborn calf.
Dr. Ruoro-Oundo believes that the key to protecting Kenya’s wildlife lies in finding a balance between community involvement and the use of technology.
"I believe that in the future, technology and conservation will always go hand in hand," she explains. "While the human touch is essential, technology will continue to play a crucial role in areas beyond our reach."
Global collaboration and efforts are necessary.
EarthRanger's journey began in Kenya when co-founder Wall was studying elephants, and now it is being used in 70 countries.
During a crisis in 2012 due to poaching in Kenya, the team wanted to find a way to track elephants in danger. They noticed that when an elephant's collar stopped moving for more than five or six hours, it was a sign of trouble.
I developed an algorithm to detect if an elephant had stopped moving, and then a collar would send a text message alert. This marked the start of the project.
Since then, the system has made significant advancements. Sarah is just one of the 9,000 animals being monitored by EarthRanger in Kenya, which includes elephants, lions, giraffes, tortoises, sea turtles, and 1,200 rhinos.
A screenshot of the EarthRanger tool, showing the movements of variousanimals that have been fitted with collared satellite tags.
A screenshot of the EarthRanger tool, showing the movements of variousanimals that have been fitted with collared satellite tags.
EarthRanger
According to Wall, EarthRanger has the capability to combine information from over 100 various devices. This includes a wide range of devices such as trackers for elephants, ear tags for rhinos, collars for lions, tail tags for giraffes, and even devices that can attach to the shells of turtles.
EarthRanger can gather information from various sources like vehicle trackers, satellites, and remote sensing alerts, including data on deforestation and fires. This data is then compiled into a single platform for easy visualization, analysis, and action. Operators and managers can have a real-time overview of the situation with the help of these tools.
The devices used by EarthRanger are designed to be lightweight, durable, and discreet to ensure they do not affect the animals' natural behavior or cause them any discomfort. Dr. Ruoro-Oundo explains that attaching a tracker to a rhino is comparable to a human getting their ears pierced.
Samuel Lekimaroro, a wildlife protection manager for the Northern Rangelands Trust, which includes Sera Conservancy, uses a special type of data to track terrestrial and marine wildlife across a vast area of 6.5 million hectares. This data has become incredibly valuable to Lekimaroro for tasks such as wildlife translocation, collecting data, and ensuring security, including pinpointing areas where human-wildlife conflicts are more likely to occur.
Lekimaroro mentions that thanks to EarthRanger, the illegal poaching of trophy animals has significantly decreased over the past five years. In 2012, there were 120 elephants poached, but in the last four years, there have been zero poaching incidents in the member conservancies that he oversees.
Wall believes that the ability to securely gather and exchange data from various EarthRanger sites worldwide is groundbreaking. He explains that organizations engaged in joint patrolling or species monitoring can easily share information through the platform. By centralizing data on EarthRanger, it allows for the integration of information from multiple sites, enabling analysis and reporting in ways that were previously unimaginable.
Editor's P/S:
The article highlights the remarkable success story of rhino conservation in Kenya, particularly in Sera Community Conservancy. The translocation of white rhinos to the sanctuary has been a significant achievement, and the use of technology, such as EarthRanger, has played a crucial role in monitoring and protecting these majestic creatures. The collaboration between wildlife veterinarians, conservancy management, and technology providers has been instrumental in ensuring the well-being of the rhinos and their future generations.
Furthermore, the article emphasizes the importance of community involvement in wildlife conservation. Sera Conservancy's efforts to establish a community rhino sanctuary have created a sense of ownership and responsibility among the local community, fostering a deep connection with the rhinos and their habitat. The involvement of local communities in conservation initiatives not only ensures the protection of wildlife but also promotes sustainable development and economic growth in the region. By bridging the gap between technology and community engagement, Sera Conservancy has set an exemplary model for successful wildlife conservation in Kenya and beyond.
