Animal Trackem

Rhino Security,Monitoring and Management System

The Animal Track-em Rhino management system was designed to enable the rhino owner to manage and monitor their investment in real time, 24 hours per day. The system has an alarm functionality that alerts the user as soon as the rhino shows any sign of abnormal behaviour or ventures out of pre-set geographical borders. The system was also designed for research applications where the behavioural patterns of rhinos can be monitored. Data such as activity, location, velocity, direction of movement and temperature are stored and can be downloaded for these purposes. The system was designed to accommodate the private owner, wildlife institutes as well as research organizations The system consists of 2 parts.
The first part is the GPS RHINO MONITORING DEVICE. This device monitors the rhino and is in constant communication with a BASE STATION network. The second part as mentioned is the BASE STATION that is erected in the roaming area of the rhino. This station generates the coverage on which the GPS RHINO MONITORING DEVICE operates. The GPS RHINO MONITORING DEVICE sends all alarms, notifications and data through to the BASE STATION, which then distributes it to the user. The system coverage can be extended by a RELAY STATION. A RELAY STATION can be erected in another area and relays all data received from GPS RHINO MONITORING DEVICES to the BASE STATION for distribution to the user. Users will receive real time alarms by means of SMS and missed calls and all data are made available through a secure web interface. Alarms will include abnormal rhino activity (abnormal HIGH activity when chased or threatened and abnormal LOW activity when stationary for too long) or if the rhino moves into or out of a specified zone (breaking fence).

Research System Overview

The same GPS RHINO MONITORING DEVICE that is used for security purposes, are implemented for research applications. The system layout that is used in the Security System application, can also be used for researchers to download and access behavioural data. Base stations can be erected at strategic points in the research area and as soon as the rhino moves into coverage of the BASE STATION, the data will be downloaded to be accessed through a secure web interface. Alternatively researchers can be supplied with a manual download console. This enables data to be downloaded from the rhino by means of a manual field download technique or by plane. Wireless
Wildlife has had great success by downloading data by means of a model plane with a build in manual download console.

Locating or VHF tracking the Rhino

GPS - On - Demand The system offers the "GPS on demand" functionality where in-time GPS location from the GPS RHINO MONITORING DEVICE can be requested using a manual receiver or your cellular phone if the area is covered by our BASE STATION infrastructure. This can be done simultaneously for multiple tagged rhinos from ground or air and will take about 5 minutes to receive the coordinates.

VHF Tracking The system has the capability and also offers optional digital VHF tracking technology. This can be used in cases when The GPS RHINO MONITORING DEVICE can not get a GPS fix. The user can then search for the animal with a directional antenna and a VHF receiver to receive. (quite important for security applications)

Rhino Collar Explenation Leaflet PDF