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Name: .................................................................. ID: ……………………...SectionFighting Extinction: Using Drones in Animal Wildlife ConservationAnti-Poaching Drones Source Texts-6159534798000520705376545Figure 1. Sleeping Rhino (Pixabay, 2017).00Figure 1. Sleeping Rhino (Pixabay, 2017). Module 3: Problem, Solution, and Evaluation Essays-635007314565Figure 1. An Octocopter monitoring a rhino herd in a wildlife sanctuary (How Drones Help Protect Wildlife Resorts, 2016).00Figure 1. An Octocopter monitoring a rhino herd in a wildlife sanctuary (How Drones Help Protect Wildlife Resorts, 2016).Prompt:The rhinoceros is an important species that is close to extinction. Describe the problems endangering wild rhinos and analyze the advantages and disadvantages of using anti-poaching drones.Text 1: Challenges and Opportunities in Rhino Conservation Efforts For many years, poaching has been a serious problem in African national wildlife parks. Poaching is defined as the illegal hunting, capturing, or killing of wild animals. Throughout Africa, animals such as zebras, giraffes, gorillas, leopards, lions, and elephants are poached for their hides and body parts. Another species that is affected by poaching is the rhinoceros. With remaining populations estimated to be 5,042 to 5,455 for Black rhinos and 19,682 to 21,077 for Southern white rhinos, they are critically endangered and on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species. Despite their limited population and risk of extinction, statistics from the South African government show that 1,028 rhinos were killed by poachers in 2017. The reason for this is because rhino horn is thought to contain healing properties in Asian folk medicine. It is also ground into a powder and used as a popular party drug in Vietnam and other Asian countries. Although scientific studies show that rhino horn does not have any medical value, rhino horn trafficking is a significant problem. In 1977, the international trade of rhino horn was banned to protect Africa’s wild rhinos. However, increasing wealth in Asia and persisting cultural beliefs that rhino horn cures a variety of illnesses means poachers continue to kill rhinos for their horns. Although selling rhino horn is illegal, it is valued at extremely high prices. For instance, in South Africa, white rhino horn costs 11,034 AED for 2.2 kilograms. In Asian markets, the demand for rhino horn makes prices even higher at 220,500 AED for 2.2 kilograms. 32524707888605Figure 2. A remotely piloted aircraft taking off in South Africa (Mulero-Pazmany et al. 2014).00Figure 2. A remotely piloted aircraft taking off in South Africa (Mulero-Pazmany et al. 2014).325437595567500To stop rhino poaching, environmentalists have tried a number of anti-poaching measures such as dehorning, DNA analysis, hidden cameras, GPS trackers, and computer software applications. However, these have not stopped the rhino poaching crisis, causing conservationists to consider more advanced technology to combat poaching and wildlife crime. Since 2012, one of these methods has been using drones to monitor rhinos. Many believe that drones can effectively stop poaching as they cover vast distances, operate at night, send live video stream, and identify illegal activities. Although there are significant benefits to anti-poaching drones in wildlife conservation, they also have a number of practical limitations. Some of these are regulations as several African countries lack a legal framework for drone operation. Other concerns are weather conditions and the costs involved in purchasing and operating the drones. Source: Bale, R. (2018, January 25). More than 1000 rhinos killed by poachers in South Africa last year. National Geographic. Retrieved from 2: Poaching Problems in South Africa and the Illegal Trade of Rhino Horn Rhinos were once abundant throughout Africa and Asia with a worldwide population of approximately half a million in the early 20th century. However, despite intensive conservation efforts, poaching is dramatically increasing, pushing the remaining rhinos closer towards extinction. South Africa, which has by far the largest population of rhinos in the world, is an important country for rhino conservation. However, in 2014, South African parks had 1,215 of their rhinos killed by poachers. One year later, poachers slaughtered another 1,175 rhinos. Rhino poaching has reached a crisis point, and if the killing continues at this rate, rhino deaths may exceed rhino births in the next two years. This means that the rhinos could be extinct in the very near future.35909254805680Figure 3. Traditional Chinese rhino horn medicine (Getty Images, 2011).00Figure 3. Traditional Chinese rhino horn medicine (Getty Images, 2011).34455103746500Poaching is the result of the illegal trade in rhino horn. Globalisation and economic growth has made it easier to establish illegal trading routes. The current poaching crisis is due to the growing demand for rhino horn in Asian countries, mainly Vietnam and China. Vietnam has been identified as the largest user country of rhino horn. Although rhino horn has no scientifically proven medical benefits, it is highly valued in traditional medicine. Consequently, consumers use it to treat a wide range of conditions, from thyroid conditions to cancer. Drone operators argue that by implementing conservation drone surveillance, poaching and the illegal trade of rhino horn can be stopped. One group, Air Shepherd, has flown over 6,000 flight hours (4,000 missions) in Malawi, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. Their research found that in South Africa, no rhinos were killed during the six months their drone operations took place. Previously, however, without anti-poaching drones, this same area had as many as 19 rhinos killed each month. Despite these positive findings, others argue that drones cannot completely eliminate poaching and rhino horn trafficking. This is because drone operators need to be highly skilled. If an operator does not have sufficient training, then the capabilities of a drone cannot be fully utilized. Another problem is that as the demand for rhino horn has increased, so has the number of international criminal gangs becoming involved in poaching. Conservationists are concerned that these poaching gangs may try to influence drone operators. In some cases, drone operators have allegedly been bribed to give rhino location details to poachers. Source: Air Shepherd: The Lindbergh Foundation. (n.d.). Reversing the march of extinction. Retrieved from 3: High Tech Solutions 34772603084830Figure 4. Drones help wage war on poachers (Snitch, 2015).00Figure 4. Drones help wage war on poachers (Snitch, 2015).34804357112000In a small airstrip near Skukuza, South Africa the latest in drone technology is being tested to help rangers win the battle against rhino poachers. The National Parks are looking to using drones as a way to stop poaching activity in the vast savannah grasslands. The idea is to use these drones to help monitor the very large areas of land which often provide plenty of places for the poachers to hide. Drones have already been tested in the neighbouring province of KwaZulu-Natal. They proved to be a success: when drones were used in known poaching areas, no rhinos were killed. However, once the drones were moved, poaching activity restarted. Although they did not physically catch poachers, the drones did reduce the amount of poaching being carried out. However, many wildlife experts claim that drones alone cannot stop poaching. The reasons involve weight, battery life, and cost. Drones need to be lightweight, but strong enough to cope with difficult African landscapes. Most African national wildlife parks are also quite large. For example, the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya, a reserve that specializes in protecting white and black rhinos, is 364 square kilometres. This park’s study with the drone company Airware in 2014 had several successful missions, but also noted that “trying to find the small shape of a poacher in a park of this size was still difficult, even with high-spec night time and thermal imaging.”In order to cover the vast distances of national parks, drones need to be able to operate for a long period of time. The body of a drone is light and weighs about 100 grams. However, the batteries needed to power it for long durations are very heavy. Smaller, more affordable drones have a battery life of 30 to 90 minutes. This is not enough if the drone needs to cover a large area. Many national parks and reserves need drones that can fly six to eight hours. Drones that are able to cover such distances over longer time periods are costly. Some estimates price anti-poaching drones between 183,750 to 257,250 AED. Yet, higher-specification long range drones are more expensive and can cost 918,750 AED. These prices are only for the cost of the drones. Other costs are also involved in drone operations. Although these differ depending on the equipment, technology and staffing, it can cost 73,500 AED a month to finance an anti-poaching drone crew. This estimate includes the costs of the drone, support vehicle, salaries and accommodation. Meeting these costs is challenging for most national wildlife parks that have limited budgets and funding. Source: Wall, M. (2018, July 20). Can drones tackle Africa’s wildlife crisis? BBC News. Retrieved from . Source Text 4: Drones Help Stop Poaching, But are an Expensive Alternative for Parks 40538403891280Figure 5. Drone launch preparation (Air Shepherd, n.d.).00Figure 5. Drone launch preparation (Air Shepherd, n.d.).4048125127317500One of the concerns of using drones in wildlife conservation is the funding required to finance an anti-poaching drone operation. Even if a drone’s software is donated to a national park, the equipment and staff needed to operate it are expensive. For example, a short-range Falcon Drone costs approximately 55,125 AED. The camera, ground control equipment, and training needed to fly it is an additional 29,400 AED. While these costs may be more affordable, it equals the yearly salary of some national park rangers. Other drone operations are more expensive. For example, an advanced anti-poaching drone, its operators and control station can cost more than 1,837,500 AED per year. One of the most successful anti-poaching drone initiatives is Air Shepherd, which operates in Malawi, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. Because of their drone program’s success at stopping rhino poaching, parks in Botswana, Mozambique, and Zambia have also requested help. Air Shepherd is now trying to raise money to establish another 40 to 50 anti-poaching drone teams across southern Africa. While effective, this could cost more than 73,500,000 million AED per year. 42779957086600Figure 6. Drone image of a poacher hiding in the grass (Air Shepherd, n.d.).00Figure 6. Drone image of a poacher hiding in the grass (Air Shepherd, n.d.).4280535125349000Nevertheless, many feel that anti-poaching drones are worth the investment because of their ability to save critically endangered rhinos. A major benefit is that drones are able to operate at night. Conservation studies found that over eighty percent of poaching happens at night when there is limited visibility. At night, it is difficult for park rangers to find poachers in vast parks that are millions of square kilometres. Sometimes, it is even difficult for rangers to see a poacher that is hiding nearby. Drones, however, are enabled with cameras, image-processing software, or heat-sensitive infrared optics to identify poachers. Another benefit of drones is that they help protect rangers as well as the rhinos. In the evening, park rangers’ safety is not only threatened by poachers, but also by wildlife. When on patrol, rangers are vulnerable to attacks by other park animals such as buffalos or lions. According to the Game Rangers Association of Africa, over 1,000 rangers have been killed in the last ten years trying to protect wildlife. Many rangers believe that drones not only help protect them but are also essential to stop poaching. According to Rob Breare of the Kenya Conservancy Project, if poachers hear drones in the sky, they know they are being watched; this is a helpful deterrent to poaching. Source: Raxter, P., & Young, R. (2015, May 23). Drones can curb poaching, but they’re much costlier than alternatives. National Geographic. Retrieved from ................
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