specialist ranger units
Effective anti-poaching strategies remain vital in the protection of threatened species
Simply putting boots on the ground to try to stem the poachers’ advance is not enough anymore. We need smart operations directed by information and intelligence gathered from informer networks, state-of-the-art technology, and cooperation between all sectors of law enforcement. At Space for Giants, we are increasingly deploying strategic tactics to anti-poaching.
MOBILE ANTI-POACHING UNITS
Wildlife landscapes are vast, and to be effective at that scale law enforcement needs to be mobile. We pay wages for, and train and equip, specialist teams including Rapid Response Teams and Mobile Ranger Units that can reach remote locations quickly enough to be truly effective against both wildlife crime and general insecurity. In 2019, we tripled the number of specialist rangers we trained for anti-poaching units, focusing on supporting law enforcement authorities in southern Africa, home to more than half of the continent’s savannah elephants.
intelligence-led operations
A proactive approach is more effective than a reactive one. Key tactics include creating networks of contacts within communities, reacting swiftly to new information, and deploying state-of-the-art data analytics software to find criminal patterns.
MODERN EQUIPMENT
Outdated gear undermines anti-poaching teams’ effectiveness, and can put their lives at risk when they go up against well-resourced and very well-equipped poaching networks. We upgrade equipment and train modern ranger units how to use it.