Intelligent CIO Africa Issue 03 | Page 46

INTELLIGENT BRANDS // Green Technology Large scale Sigfox IoT network used to protect rhinos in South Africa The next step of this initiative is to develop a new generation of IoT long-life wireless sensors. The first phase of the experiment called Now Rhinos Speak, took place from July 2016 to February 2017, on a conservation area protecting 450 wild rhinoceroses in Southern Africa. Sigfox Foundation announced a six-month experiment for a new rhinoceros tracking system. Involved in the conservation of the endangered species, the Sigfox Foundation is partnering with three of the largest international organisations dedicated to rhinos conservation. According to Save the Rhino, an international organisation supporting endangered rhinos, there are only 29,000 animals left in the world, compared to 46 INTELLIGENTCIO 70,000 only 50 years ago. Rhinos could become extinct in just over ten years’ time if poaching continues at current rates. The Sigfox Foundation, which uses connected sensors to save lives, has partnered with conservationists to better monitor rhinos, by having exact locations with a secured and long term tracking system on the Sigfox network, and therefore better protect the animals. The first phase of the experiment, called Now Rhinos Speak, took place from July 2016 to February 2017, on a conservation area protecting 450 wild rhinoceroses in Southern Africa. The operations, jointly carried out by the Sigfox Foundation and Lowveld Rhino Trust, first deployed the infrastructure to enable Sigfox’s Low Power Wide Area network across the nature reserve in just four days. Three Sigfox antennas and base stations have been deployed, now covering the area. www.intelligentcio.com