Tech Watch: AI night vision tech halts rhino poaching

From the newsletter

Thermal cameras integrated with artificial intelligence are transforming rhino conservation in Kenya. Developed by Teledyne FLIR in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund, this technology employs high-powered thermal imaging and AI to detect humans, animals, or vehicles in the dark. It automatically alerts rangers, allowing for quicker response times and safer patrols.

• The system has helped halt poaching in key areas such as Ol Pejeta Conservancy and Solio Game Reserve. Its primary advantage lies in its night-time surveillance capabilities. Since its implementation, Ol Pejeta has reported zero poaching incidents since 2017, and Solio has maintained this record since late 2023.

• Other technologies featured in our quarterly Tech Watch include a DNA tool developed by researchers in Namibia. It utilises faecal samples and mini-barcodes to identify elusive African carnivores with 95% accuracy for non-invasive tracking. Additionally, Nigerian teens have created Reforest AI, a solar-powered tool that employs sound recognition and mesh networks to detect chainsaw activity in forests.

More details

• Ol Pejeta was the first site to adopt Forward-Looking Infrared (FLIR) systems in 2019, followed by Solio in 2023. It now operates the largest FLIR setup in a protected area, hosting the largest black rhino populations in East Africa. The technology has expanded to 11 reserves, covering areas with over 80% of Kenya’s rhinos, alongside elephants and other threatened species. Rangers have also received training to operate vehicle-mounted cameras for night patrols.

• The technology has also improved relations between rangers and the community. Cameras have detected non-poaching crimes, such as theft, which has helped build trust with local residents. In Lake Nakuru, an incident of donkey theft that was initially met with suspicion led to collaboration between rangers and the community. These partnerships now support intelligence-sharing, reinforcing wildlife protection.

• A DNA tool, on the other hand, is aiding in the tracking of elusive African carnivores with high accuracy. Developed by researchers, this non-invasive DNA method identifies African carnivores using faecal samples. The technique analyses mitochondrial DNA and employs a genetic marker, known as a mini-barcode, to determine species presence. It was developed by scientists, including Anne Schmidt-Küntzel from the Namibia-based Cheetah Conservation Fund.

• The team tested 157 scat samples from southern Africa, identifying species with 95% accuracy. Six species were confirmed, including leopards and caracals. The study compared these results to earlier data collected in Namibia, validating the tool’s reliability. It may also assist in monitoring cheetahs, lions, servals and African golden cats.

• Researchers created a performance guide for using the mini-barcode in different regions and with various species. This method helps monitor species presence without needing to directly observe the animals, which is a key benefit for tracking elusive or nocturnal carnivores. The tool has potential applications in conservation planning for threatened species with limited visibility in the field.

• In response to over 96% of forest cover loss in Nigeria, three teenagers from Port Harcourt developed Reforest AI, a low-cost forest monitoring system. This system detects chainsaw activity in real time using artificial intelligence, sound recognition, and wireless sensors, even in areas without internet or electricity. It operates on solar power and employs AI models trained to identify illegal logging sounds, filtering them from background forest noise.

• Reforest AI originated at a local hackathon, where Lesley John Jumbo, Bright Sunday, and Blessed Pepple engineered it to respond to threats by alerting rangers through mesh networks. In February, the system won top honours at the 2025 Slingshot Challenge, receiving a grant for expansion. Limitations include interference from storms and a lack of legal infrastructure. The system’s future depends on local collaboration and the passage of Nigeria’s forest security legislation, which is currently awaiting presidential approval.

Our take

• Africa's conservation future is being shaped by local initiatives. Examples include AI-powered forest guardians developed by Nigerian teenagers and DNA tools co-created by Namibian scientists.

• These innovations signify a shift in the design and implementation of solutions, placing African voices at the forefront of ecosystem protection. 

• Instead of solely depending on imported technology or expertise, local ingenuity is producing low-cost, context-aware tools that address pressing conservation challenges.