Poaching of wildlife is a major threat to conservation efforts all over the world. Yet, anti-poaching campaigns remain largely ineffective. Multiple reasons can be sited. First, the areas to be protected are vast and the manpower to patrol these vast areas are often insufficient for the job with limited funds and human resources available for these activities. Additionally, patrols that have to cover broad areas of wilderness are often in the wrong place at the wrong time. Even with tips from local residences or informants of poaching activities, rangers often arrive on the scene after the slaughter of wildlife, too late to save lives. Poaching is a primary reason for loss of biodiversity in many developing nations and unless effective anti-poaching are instigated, we will continue to see loss of life--including those of endangered species.

The causes of poaching are diverse, but the outcome is singular.  When legally protected animals are poached illegally—whether for greed, sport, or food—biodiversity is lost.  The illegal trade of animals has become a worldwide problem and multimillion dollar market. A multitude of highly endangered species has fallen prey to the black market and the commercial bush trade.   Tigers, rhinos, and giant panda bears are killed for a single body part, especially horns and bones, which are used in traditional Chinese medicine or culinary markets. Leopards and tigers are killed for their skin. Elephants are murdered in mass, sometimes hundreds at one time, simply for their tusks.  Sadly, these helpless animals are often slaughtered within the boundaries of protected parks. And poaching finds no boundaries with regard to rarity or phylogeny of the victim. Even our most rare of great apes are at risk to the devastation of poaching. The single greatest threat to great apes in Central Africa is the commercial trade in wildlife, and this has become of major concern to wildlife biologist attempting to save these species from extinction. Consequently, anti-poaching is now considered to be the single most effective means of protecting apes in Western Equatorial Africa, as well as a priority in endeavors to save biodiversity all over the world.

  Clearly, poaching represents an   immense problem in the race to   save biodiversity. While the   reasons for poaching may be   complex, the outcome is always   unacceptable.  Given the   enormous impact of poaching on   wildlife conservation, and the   daunting deficits in resources   and manpower in anti-poaching   endeavors, new solutions are   necessary. In response to this  challenge, Wildland Security   is now applying mainstream technological advances to conservation problems. Specifically, Wildland Security is utilizing modern surveillance technology to assist in anti-poaching campaigns all over the world.  The goal is to give park personnel the equipment to monitor poachers, and intercede before animals are killed.