FLIR and World Wildlife Fund Combat Poaching
Teledyne FLIR and WWF: Anti-Poaching with Thermal Imaging
Teledyne FLIR has collaborated with World Wildlife Fund (WWF) since 2016, providing thermal imaging camera technology to rangers in Africa on their mission to fight poaching. The illegal global trade of endangered and protected wildlife is worth up to a $20 billion annually, with links to organized crime activities. Poachers usually work under the cover of darkness, but thermal imaging cameras give rangers the competitive advantage to see at night.
To date, the deployment has been limited to the Maasai Mara Conversancy and Lake Nakuru conservation areas in Kenya, and Kafue National Park in Zambia among other locations, which remain unnamed for security purposes.
In Maasai Mara, rangers have apprehended more than 160 poachers using FLIR cameras since 2016.
The Kifaru Rising Project: Ending Rhino Poaching in Kenya
In January 2019, CEO Jim Cannon and WWF CEO Carter Roberts announced The Kifaru Rising Project. This bold multi-year collaboration will deploy FLIR thermal imaging technology across 10 parks and game reserves in Kenya to help improve wildlife ranger safety and achieve the goal of ending rhino poaching. The Kifaru Rising Project will significantly broaden the use of FLIR technology across Kenya and build on the experience and success achieved in the initial parks where FLIR cameras have been effectively used for nearly 3 years.
The Kifaru Rising Project includes a pledge by FLIR of more than $3 million in technology, engineering assistance, and training with the goal of eliminating rhino poaching in Kenya by 2021.
‘Kifaru’ means Rhino in the Kiswahili language. The Kifaru Rising Project aims to bolster conservation efforts specifically to protect the black rhino, whose wild population of just 5,400 makes it one the world’s most endangered species.
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Donate NowKifaru Rising Project Priority Parks
These 10 parks and game reserves were chosen for the Kifaru Rising Project based on the highest concentration of black rhinos and the alarming frequency of poaching activity.
- Lake Nakuru National Park
- Solio game Reserve
- Meru National Park
- Ol Pejeta Conservancy
- Ruma National Park
- Nairobi National Park
- Ol Jogi Wildlife Conservancy
- Maasai Mara National Reserve
- Tsavo East National Park
- Tsavo West National Park
