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NEW PRODUCT ANNOUNCEMENT! – Added Function Very High Frequency (AFVHF)

Wildlife ACT Innovations is excited to share that we have developed our own, specialised Added Function Very High Frequency (AFVHF) transmitter for...
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Wildlife Tracking Products

Wildlife ACT Innovations – Wildlife Telemetry Solutions Company Launches in South Africa

Wildlife ACT and AWE Telemetry Systems have joined forces in the wildlife telemetry space. The new company, called Wildlife ACT...
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Rhino pods are a species-specific tracking device Rhino pods are a species-specific tracking device that is glued onto the posterior horn base with a special equine adhesive, following the dehorning procedure. The rhino pod is a far less cumbersome and unobtrusive alternative to a rhino ankle-tracking collar. Wildlife ACT Innovations has been approached to design and develop three sizes of rhino pod for rhinos of different ages. We now offer small, medium, and Standard sizes. Reserve management can select a size based on the rhino they intend on tracking. Our small pod is designed with a 68mm diameter, a medium size at 75mm, and a Standard at 98mm diameter.  The Standard size is designed for an adult Black or White Rhino, pictured above. Reserve management has the choice between an Added-Function Very High Frequency (AFVHF), for manual tracking, or a GPS tracker inside their pod (either LoRa or Satellite). The fitment and choice of Pod size are crucial in ensuring the tracking device's success rate; as our Southern African rhino species face endangerment, it becomes vital in tracking young and mothers in the early stages. Conservationists can utilise the GPS data provided by LoRa/Satellite tracking devices inside the pods to keep their rhinos safe and aid in their continual population growth. 

Special thanks to @Akhani_3D for their assistance throughout our design process.

#rhinopod #rhino #rhinoconservation #technology #wildlife #tracking #satellite #GPS #trackingcollars #rhino #LoRaWAN  #VHF #conservation #wildlifemonitoring #SouthAfrica #WildlifeActInnovations #AWETelemetry #portal #user #animals #wildlifeconservation #nature #natureconservation #datacollection #research #fieldresearch #wildlifemonitors #data 

@wildlife_act @iridiumcomm @manyoniprivategamereserve
Wildlife ACT’s extensive knowledge and experienc Wildlife ACT’s extensive knowledge and experience collaring The African Painted Dog (Lycaon pictus) species has helped to design a strong and reliable GPS tracking collar. Our designs take into consideration; weight constraints, comfort, and functionality– striving to get the very best performance.

Photo credit and appreciation post to @somkhandagamereserve & @lucychimes
We would like to thank Akhani 3D for generously supporting the work we do. 
@akhani_3d @wildlife_act

#africanpainteddog #species #technology #wildlife #tracking #satellite #GPS #trackingcollars #LoRaWAN #SigFox #GSM #VHF #conservation #wildlifemonitoring #SouthAfrica #WildlifeActInnovations #AWETelemetry #portal #user #animals #wildlifeconservation #nature #natureconservation #datacollection #research #fieldresearch #wildlifemonitors #data
The African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus), Cheetah (Aci The African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus), Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) and Lion (Panthera leo) are the endangered species which we predominantly have the opportunity to work with, designing tracking collars which can fit comfortably for the weight & build of each animal. Habitat loss, inter- and intra-specific competition over resources, human-wildlife conflict and specifically poaching all pose a high risk to our wildlife populations in southern Africa. Poaching, using snares typically designed to hunt antelope within a reserve, has increased in frequency over the last decade. 
In a great effort to counteract the dire consequences of snaring, WildlifeACT Innovations in collaboration with WildlifeACT conservationists have developed an ‘anti-snare collar’ with lightweight metal plating attached. Pictured above, the collars can be made to only operate as an anti-snare function, or they can be coupled with tracking technologies such as VHF, LoRa, or Satellite. The anti-snare plate has been designed to catch the snare wire and prevent fatal injury. Additional technology such as GPS or VHF, can alert when the animal is stationary for a certain amount of time, informing monitors of the need to act. 
Using the data received from the collar the reserve management can deploy a response team to intervene and prevent the snare from causing serious harm. Anti-snare collars are a vital addition to the conservation community’s toolbox and are, unfortunately, highly needed in parts of South Africa where snaring is rife. As well as in a wild context, they could be used for domestic, working or anti-poaching dogs. 

#tracking #telemetry #satellite #iridiumcomm #antisnare #conservation #protect #wildlife #southafrica #antipoaching #LoRaWAN #technology #solutions #antisnare #wilddogsofafrica 

@ezemvelokznwildlife @africanparksnetwork @wwfsouthafrica @wildlife_act @iridiumcomm @somkhandagamereserve @hluhluwewildlife @wildlife_act
GPS tracking collars are not limited to smaller en GPS tracking collars are not limited to smaller endangered species. Over the years we have been approached by nature reserves we work with to develop a tracking collar designed for the African elephant. When looking at tracking an animal there are key considerations; the weight of the collar, comfort, durability, performance, and battery life are the most important. Our collars are designed to have either LoRa or Satellite tracking devices attached and encased in waterproof housings. As a combination collar, it can be designed to house both our Added Function Very-High Frequency transmitter and a GPS tracking device of your choosing. The AFVHF emits a pulse that rangers can use with a VHF receiver to pick up on and locate the animal’s location. Using technology to track elephants serves a greater conservation purpose; being able to tell if the elephant is stationary, moving, or has moved out of the formal conservation area and may pose a danger to humans and their crops. Understanding the range and territory that elephants occupy assists in predicting their movements and raises awareness of the herd with people living nearby. Secondly, tracking technology can serve biological research centered around the African elephant. Providing researchers the means to gather and analyse GPS data over a long-term period helps them to better understand the habitat, behaviour, and migratory patterns of a herd. This year, we are looking forward to continuing our work with the world's largest land animal. 

#nature #elephants #tracking #telemetry #AFVHF #AWEtelemetry #conservation #migration #research #wildlife #tracking #satellite #GPS #trackingcollars #VHF #conservation #wildlifemonitoring #SouthAfrica #WildlifeActInnovations #animals #wildlifeconservation #nature #natureconservation #datacollection #research #fieldresearch #wildlifemonitors 

@ezemvelokznwildlife @africanparksnetwork @wwfsouthafrica @wildlife_act @iridiumcomm @somkhandagamereserve @hluhluwewildlife @wildlife_act @manyoniprivategamereserve  @akhani_3D  @baobab_wildlife_conservation @niall_nature_beddy
In the video, we demonstrate our new Added Functio In the video, we demonstrate our new Added Function Very-High Frequency (AFVHF) transmitter within a Rhino Pod. AFVHF has a long history of assisting conservationists to monitor Rhino populations in nature reserves across Southern Africa. Our AFVHF has important features including “Duty Cycle” & “Mortality Mode”. Duty Cycle allows users to choose the period that the transmitter should pulse (eg 16 hours on and 8 hours off), which can extend battery life. A timer starts when a magnetic switch is removed & a series of pulse rates start emitting. The reserve manager may choose if they want a ‘latching’ or ‘non-latching’ mortality mode option for their AFVHF. ‘Non-latching’ sets the device to emit an emergency 80bpm after 8+ hours of zero movements from the animal. If the animal moves then the accelerometer is triggered and the device immediately reverts back to an active/inactive pulse rate of 60/40bpm.

This Rhino Pod has been set to a ‘latching’ mortality mode. The accelerometer is programmed to detect inactivity for longer than 8 hours. At this point, where the video begins, the AFVHF has been triggered to emit an emergency 80bpm. If the animal moves or is moved by another animal, the AFVHF will continue to emit 80bpm. Alerting the reserve monitor that there is a problem & that the animal is in potential danger. Even if the animal is moved by a scavenger, monitors will have a strong range and pulse emission to be able to track it to check on its current status. The latching option can be reset by removing the collar/tag. Then switch it off and on again using the magnetic switch provided. As shown in the video, the switch enables the AFVHF to revert back to its active/inactive mode at 60bpm followed by 40bpm. These pulses are used to indicate the animal and its movements. Designed to inform reserve managers and monitors of the animal’s behaviour during tracking. 

#VHF #newproduct #technology #vhftracking #telemetry #wildlife #tracking #endangeredwildlife #endangeredspecies #trackingcollars #conservation #wildlifemonitoring #SouthAfrica #WildlifeActInnovations #AWETelemetry #animals #wildlifeconservation

@wildlife_act @wwfblackrhinoproject @wwfsouthafrica
Photographed here are conservation monitors from @ Photographed here are conservation monitors from @wildlife_act fitting one of our Satellite collars onto a Cheetah. One of the most effective animal tracking options we have to offer is our GNSS or GPS Satellite collars. Through our private portal, users can access fully uploaded data information which is part of a service package we provide.

Location data is collected by the tracking device embedded within an animal’s collar or tag and delivered to the user via a satellite network and the Internet. The physical size of the tracking devices has only recently become small enough so that they fit into collars. It has always been a priority of ours to ensure collars/tags are within a certain weight class based on the species, for example, a Cheetah collar can securely hold a Satellite device within a 3D-printed housing and be limited to 400-500 grams. 
 
Challenges which Satellite tracking technology presents are the need for a good sky view to enable accurate GPS data, the cost of satellite data services, and the amount of power required to communicate to a satellite. Satellite tracking can however be the cost-effective option if a monitor is in need of long-term, high-quality data and can often be for the purpose of conservation and research combined. 

WildlifeACT Innovations prefers using Iridium as our satellite service provider, but also offers Global star solutions.

Thank you, photography credit: @crdutoit @jackie.scott.73550 

#technology #wildlife #tracking #satellite #GPS #trackingcollars #VHF #conservation #wildlifemonitoring #SouthAfrica #WildlifeActInnovations #animals #wildlifeconservation #nature #natureconservation #datacollection #research #fieldresearch #wildlifemonitors

@iridiumcomm @akhani_3d

Get in touch

Jason Tarr
Director
+27 (0)73 1712539

Emma Avni
Operations Manager
+27 (0)79 101 8902

info@wildinno.com
sales@wildinno.com

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