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 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.

Toor notes that government figures 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.