Long-range rhino surveillance in place at ERP rhino sanctuary.The Group’s affiliated nonprofit, Elephants, Rhinos & People (ERP), recently embedded long-range tracking devices into the horns of rhinos under its protection at a high-security rhino sanctuary on an ERP game reserve. The devices provide continuous monitoring with a negligible impact on the rhinos, after a brief fitment under sedation.

The operation - supported by veterinary specialists from the University of Pretoria’s Faculty of Veterinary Science, Onderstepoort campus - was led by Robert du Plessis, the reserve’s operations manager.

The tracking devices are based on low-power, wide-area radio technology that enables reliable long-distance data transmission. In addition to daily location checks, the system provides valuable data and insights into habitat use, grazing patterns and movement hotspots, to enable sound ecological practices and deployment of security patrols.