Upgraded CSIR radar helps Kruger Park combat rhino poaching

The Kruger National Park is facing a surge in rhino poaching, prompting the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to deploy upgraded radar technology to aid in detecting and tracking down poachers. Last year, 175 rhinos were killed in Kruger, a nearly 100% increase from 2024's 88 rhinos killed. The CSIR's Radar and Electronic Warfare Systems Research Group Leader, Nape Lentsoane, explained that the park had implemented the upgraded system in Rietvlei Nature Reserve, resulting in a significant drop in poaching within that area.

The new technology, known as Ground Surveillance and Classification Radar, offers several advantages over the previous system, Meerkat Mark 1 Wide Area Surveillance System. Unlike the Meerkat, the new radar system does not require a camera and can operate unattended, making it more efficient and easier to deploy in field conditions.

It also utilizes machine learning algorithms, trained through continuous data collection, to classify movement and distinguish between humans, vehicles, vegetation, birds, and animals. This enables the system to accurately identify rhinos and other targets without false positives. The phased array radar, which can electronically point in different directions, ensures quick responsiveness to suspicious activity.

Although the current range is 10 kilometers, the CSIR can design variants with different ranges according to specific needs. While the system shows promise in wildlife protection, funding remains a challenge for expanding its use to other parks, such as Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park in KwaZulu-Natal.