Samsung expands Wildlife Watch program to protect animals from poaching in South Africa

• Committed to using technology positively, Samsung partners with Africam and the Black Mamba Anti-Poaching Unit to expand its Wildlife Watch pilot project;
• Using the technology of the Galaxy S21 Ultra and the new S23 Ultra devices, it is possible to follow live, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, the wild animals of the Balule Nature Reserve, part of the Kruger National Park.

As part of World Animal Day, Samsung announced the expansion of its Wildlife Watch pilot project, in partnership with Africam and the Black Mamba Anti-Poaching Unit, to protect some species of animals that are victims of poaching, which is still ongoing in the territories of the Balule Nature Reserve, part of the well-known Kruger Park.

Launched in 2021, the program is based on the use of Samsung technology as a live “surveillance system”, allowing anyone to observe the diverse flora and fauna that inhabit this part of the South African savannah. The pilot project was a huge success, allowing one of the area’s characteristic and endangered species, the African rhino, to be kept under surveillance and safe, thanks to virtual rangers, who ensure this work together with Samsung technology.

Leitah Mkhabela, a Black Mamba Ranger says that “there has not been a single attempted poaching of rhinos in the reserve since the launch of the pilot project. However, poaching of other wild animals present in the reserve has not disappeared. Tourism is still below pre-Covid levels, which means there are fewer eyes watching the Park. The rise in the average cost of living has also led to an increase in poverty in the area, which has made it difficult to recruit new rangers, a profession that is still precarious, with low wages and difficult working conditions”.

In this new update to this project, already in testing, Samsung will use the technology of the Galaxy S21 Ultra and the new S23 Ultra devices to be able to live stream the lives of wild animals, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

These new devices feature an improved camera system and redesigned Nightography capabilities, along with a 200MP Adaptive Pixel sensor and a telephoto camera with 10x optical zoom, which allows, in the case of the Samsung Galazy S23, live filming day and night. This equipment will help rangers to improve the quality of the evidence they send to headquarters, to be used in investigations into poaching. The durable materials that make up these devices also allow for greater resistance in the field, when the phones are being used in the field by patrols, as the Samsung S23 Ultra is resistant to water and dust with IP68 certification.

The Galaxy SmartTag is also highlighted in this conservation program, as it improves the safety of rangers, facilitating the coordination and location of teams that patrol the entire area. Using SmartThings Find, Black Mamba headquarters will monitor the location of individuals within the reserve.

For those living near Kruger Park, Samsung, in partnership with the Black Mambas, created “The Samsung Bush Babies Animal Insights”, a detailed program created for the younger generations, educating them about the importance of wildlife. of young people from local communities it is possible to highlight the importance of biodiversity and its conservation for future generations. Here, we highlight the role that The Freestyle projector has had, in providing a high quality viewing experience, as it is a device compact and portable, which allow the projection, anywhere, of teaching materials related to this project.

Mark Holloway, MX Director of Category Management, Samsung Europe says, “Samsung’s Wildlife Watch pilot project has encouraged thousands of people around the world to do their part to prevent poaching in the African savannah. This demonstrates the positive role technology can play in solving real-world problems. This World Animal Day and beyond, Samsung wants to continue to raise awareness of the importance of wildlife conservation and encourage people around the world to observe and give your support for the Black Mambas in this fight to protect nature.”

This year, there is also the possibility for each person to become a virtual ranger, through “Take the Watch”, a website that allows you to observe – with different camera points of view – and report if an animal is detected in danger or a sign of poaching by clicking at the bottom of the live stream page, share what you see via snapshots on social media to encourage others to participate, or make a donation to the Black Mamba Anti-Poaching Unit. This action allows anyone to monitor , in real time, animals live from their own homes, such as elephants, lions and even giraffes in their natural habitat.

Virtual rangers who want to learn more about the signs of poaching activity can learn all about it at “The Black Mambas Boot Camp.” This series, divided into six episodes, provides rangers’ tips on the sights and sounds participants should be aware of when on surveillance, explaining the important work they do on their patrols. To see the videos visit this link.

To watch the live stream, help protect vulnerable animals or donate to the Black Mambas, go to wildlife-watch.com.

To learn more about the Wildlife Watch project, visit.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.:
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About Africam
Africam was founded in 1999 with the primary goal of connecting a global audience to the live sights and sounds of the African savannah. We are a passionate group of wildlife enthusiasts who have a collective ambition to protect our wonderful wildlife and the pristine ecosystems they inhabit. With our network of live cameras located in the most remote locations in Africa, we broadcast our live streams to over 200 countries. To learn more or to join the Africam community, visit: www.africam.com.

About the Black Mamba Anti-Poaching Unit
The Black Mambas Anti-Poaching Unit was founded in 2013 by Transfrontier Africa NPC to protect the Balule Olifants West Region Nature Reserve. In their first year of operation, the Black Mambas were invited to expand into other regions and protect the entire boundary of the 62,000 hectare Balule Nature Reserve, an integral part of the Greater Kruger Area in South Africa. Their teams work on the basis of “Broken Window” philosophy, striving to make its area of influence the most undesirable, most difficult and least profitable place for illegal hunting of any species. With a passion for wildlife and rhino conservation, these women are a voice in the community through their conservation work.

The goals of the Black Mamba project are not only to protect wildlife through its work in the field, but also to be a role model for its communities. They want their communities to understand that the benefits are greater from conservation rather than poaching, invoking the social and moral decay that is a product of illegal hunting in their communities. They are concerned about the well-being of their children as the false economy has brought negative spirit and narcotics into their communities.

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