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You may have heard about the multiple helpful uses of GPS tracking, but now the technology has gone wild. Five rhinos in South Africa now walk around with GPS tracking devices embedded in their horns. The devices are an experiment in poaching prevention because the number of rhinos poached in Africa has increased dramatically in the past ten years. In 2007 only ten rhinos were killed, but the number has risen to 230 killed so far this year. The Rhinoceros, mostly found in national parks, has become an endangered species. With the increase in poaching, rhinos are in even greater danger of becoming extinct. Most rhinos are killed on national park grounds, especially in South Africa.

Why Rhinos Are Killed

Rhinos are usually poached because of their valuable horns, which are sold by the poachers for as much as $210, 000 per horn. Rhinoceros horns are valued for their supposed medicinal properties. The principal market for rhino horns is in Asia, where many believe in the superstitious healing properties of the horns.

Although the horn can be removed from the rhino without causing any great injury to the animal, poached rhinos are usually killed or wounded severely, leaving them unable to survive for long.

How GPS Helps

Park officials have tried several tactics to stop the rhino poaching, and are now resorting to a high-tech approach with the use of GPS tracking. So far five rhinos on the Mafikeng Game Reserve have had these tiny tracking devices implanted in their horns. The GPS units send signals to cell phones carried by game wardens, who can then monitor the rhinos’ behaviour and whereabouts, even from great distances. The GPS devices can even set off alarms if a rhino starts running or stops moving for an unusually long period of time. Of course, the units can also tell the game wardens the rhino’s exact location at all times, so the park officials will be aware if the animal goes outside the park boundaries.

National park employees plan to expand the tracking system soon by equipping more rhinos in other parks around the country with GPS tracking devices. Although this system may not completely eradicate illegal poaching, officials are hopeful that it will prevent many poachers from killing or maiming members of this endangered species. If a poacher does manage to capture or kill a rhino, the GPS-equipped horn would still send signals, allowing park officials to catch the thief and recover the stolen horn.

Article Written by Greg Bartlett