GPS-Camera Implants Protect Rhinos from Poachers

A U.K.-based conservation and animal welfare nonprofit named Protect has created a new device to help protect the dwindling rhinoceros population from poachers.

The invention is called the Anti-Poaching Intelligence Device (RAPID). It is composed of a series of GPS tags, heart rate monitors, and embedded cameras.

The Verge’s Amar Toor explains [1] how RAPID works: A heart rate monitor gets inserted under the rhino’s skin. An increase or decrease in the rhino’s heartbeat will issue an alert to the closest control center in a park.

Park employees can activate a tiny camera implanted in the rhino’s horn to see what is going on. Next, the authorities can pinpoint the rhino’s location via a GPS built into a leather collar worn by the rhino, and immediately deploy anti-poaching forces.

Rhino poaching has risen considerably in recent years due to the high prices the horns command on the black market, particularly in Asia. Poachers can make up to $65,000 per kilogram. [2]

Toor notes that government figures [3] indicate poachers killed more 1,200 rhinos in South Africa last year.

Protect plans on distributing more prototypes within the next few months with an eye for a wide launch by 2016.

Protect gave the video below to Toor who posted it on his own Youtube channel. The clip shows RAPID in action.