Using Cutting-edge Solar Power Technology to Save Wildlife

In today's economic environment, it is clear that although wildlife investment may decline in the short term as the focus moves from a sustaining mode to a survival mode of operations for most conservation organizations, this re-evaluation and change is long awaited. Using technology has become a key factor in making this transformation successful.

Conservations organizations, despite being not-for-profit, still have the responsibility to ensure streamlined operations, lack of wastage of resources and a driving committment to taking the most economical decisions with respect to wildlife programs to ensure their success. Innovation, brain-storming and finding out-of-the-box solutions are what is needed and this is where technology comes in to play.

Extremely innovative programs like the WCN (Wildlife Conservation Network) Solar Project that uses cutting-edge solar technology for wildlife conservationists that operate in areas where there is barely just running water, empowers their ability to preserve and save endangered wildlife in remote areas of the world. These innovative solutions are enabling efforts to save some of our most endangered species and those animals most threatened. The Solar Project has a focus on the Ethiopian wolf, painted dog, elephant and cheetah.

Other conservation organizations are looking to similar technologies to reduce cost and improve their success rates. Using solar power is leading edge today, but other basic forms of technology are used everyday to help assist with conservation efforts. The AWF (African Wildlife Foundation) as part of its Leopard Conservation Science Project in the Limpopo Heartland, led by researcher Nakedi Maputla, makes use of new camera equipment, upgrade tracking and computer gear, to expand his reach and ensure a successful research project.

In summary, we cannot allow our problems to become those of wildlife and with innovation and some forethought, we can make wildlife immune to our economic problems. The "proof" as they say, "is in the pudding", so priorities and focus must continue to be on finding innovative and economical solutions that will ensure our wildlife become more immune to our challenges. Technological solutions do have their cost, and greater care must be given to ensure the benefits outweigh these costs.