Our Mission
On average, poachers claim the lives of 96 African elephants and two rhinoceroses every day. The current challenges faced by wildlife reserves in combating poaching and effectively monitoring animal populations stem from the lack of adequate surveillance solutions. Well-equipped poachers typically strike under the cover of night, making it nearly impossible for the rangers to detect them. The parks are vast, and even though the rangers can narrow down certain high-risk areas where the poachers are most likely to strike, these regions are still extensive and challenging to access. Most of these areas lack roads and infrastructures. For example, even with more than 400 rangers on patrol in the southern part of Kruger National Park, only a small fraction of these areas can be covered.
Commercial multi-rotor drones are notably restricted by their limited flight durations, typically spanning between 15 to 55 minutes, as well as the issue of noise pollution. Our project aims to address this critical issue by developing a discreet, long-endurance drone capable of autonomous monitoring of expansive areas. This initiative will significantly assist rangers in their mission to safeguard and conserve wildlife.
Aerial surveillance is pivotal in combatting poaching, enabling the monitoring of vast areas day and night with a combination of visual and thermal cameras. However, existing solutions for game reserves are inadequate. Deploying camera systems on small aircraft is cost-prohibitive, requiring professional pilots and incurring substantial fuel costs.
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Here is where Noctua, a long-endurance drone designed to revolutionise aerial surveillance in anti-poaching efforts, takes the stage.