Projects

The FenceRanger is a low-cost, solar-powered electric fence monitoring system developed to detect intrusions in real time. Using LoRaWAN and custom-built sensors, it sends instant geo-tagged alerts via a Telegram bot when a fence is breached. Designed for easy deployment and minimal maintenance, FenceRanger provides constant, scalable surveillance across reserve perimeters, enabling faster ranger response and better protection for wildlife. Together with the AirRanger it will allow immediate responses to reserve intrusions.

The RoadRanger is our prototype autonomous ground vehicle designed for fence line patrols. This Suzuki Jimny and rover-based system aims to navigate reserve perimeters, detect fence damage or intrusions, and relay information back to rangers in real time. Still in early development, RoadRanger is intended to complement FenceRanger and AirRanger by adding a mobile ground-level monitoring layer, especially in areas difficult to access on foot or where added presence is needed.

The AirRanger is a high-endurance, fixed-wing drone for real-time anti-poaching surveillance and is the first project we started with. Built for rugged African conditions, it features a 3-meter wingspan, thermal and RGB cameras, and fully automated launch and landing sequence. Silent and easy to operate, AirRanger enables rapid threat detection and supports rangers during patrols and active operations, boosting both effectiveness and safety. Ongoing upgrades include AI-powered person detection and improved flight control systems. Additionally it will be integrated together with the FenceRanger to enable autonomous threat detection and a rapid aerial response.

SavannAI is WILD’s wildlife-counting project, developing an aerial AI workflow for monitoring free-ranging animals across large reserve landscapes. The project combines colour and thermal imagery collected during daytime and nighttime flights to create a carefully curated wildlife dataset.

The planned workflow covers field data collection, image pairing and quality control, animal labelling and verification, followed by model development and evaluation for more consistent wildlife counts. SavannAI is currently in development, and sensitive wildlife locations will not be made public.

TrackRanger explores a family of affordable, low-power tracking devices for wildlife, rangers, vehicles and equipment in areas with limited mobile coverage. The system is being developed around GNSS, LoRaWAN and existing reserve communications infrastructure.

Different trackers can be adapted to their intended users, battery requirements, housings and attachment methods. TrackRanger is currently in early development and testing. Access to threatened-animal and ranger locations will remain restricted to authorised personnel.

As part of its outreach efforts, WILD runs the WILDed(u) initiative, visiting local high schools and universities to demonstrate its conservation technologies and share stories from the field. Through hands-on sessions and real-world examples, WILDed(u) aims to not only inspire the next generation of engineers and conservationists, but also to educate locals about the value of wildlife, showing how life of humans and nature can go hand in hand.

The Nagapie is a compact device developed by SPOTS to deter poachers through mimicking ranger presence. It uses light and sound to simulate ranger activity in the bush, creating uncertainty for would-be intruders. Affordable and easy to deploy, Nagapie adds a passive layer of protection by exploiting the element of surprise and fear of detection.

WILD does not stop here! Do you have novel ideas that will make an impact on nature conservation?
We know that change comes from continuous advancement - so let's begin this journey together!

Some of the projects we are currently looking into bringing on track are radar-based snare detection, LoRa-based animal and park visitor tracking and AI based animal counts :)