Botswana Uses Tech to Protect Giraffes
Botswana is stepping up its giraffe conservation efforts through the adoption of advanced tracking technology, following a significant equipment donation to the Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO) by global non-profit Save Giraffes Now (SGN). The package, valued at approximately P200,000 (US$14,900), includes real-time tracking devices and camera systems handed over at the Goo-Moremi Resort, around 300km northeast of the capital Gaborone. The technology is intended to support population monitoring, improve data collection, and enhance wildlife management, while also boosting the visitor experience and sustainable tourism development in the region.
The initiative comes as giraffes in Botswana face growing threats from illegal hunting, habitat loss, and prolonged droughts. Satellite tracking will allow ecologists to map movement corridors, monitor how animals respond to human pressures, and quickly identify when giraffes stray into unprotected or high-poaching areas. Botswana is estimated to be home to between 8,000 and 13,000 giraffes and is regarded as a global conservation leader, with 40 percent of its land dedicated to national parks, game reserves, and wildlife management areas.
Source: CAJ News Africa
