Human-Wildlife Conflict Efforts Expanded with Argos

In South Africa, the savannah tells a complex story, where humans, livestock, and wildlife share space, but not always peacefully. Our work with the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) has been instrumental in addressing this tension through real-time tracking technology designed to reduce human-wildlife conflict.

Originally, our joint project focused on equipping cattle with Argos satellite collars to monitor their movements. This helped alert farmers when their herds approached dangerous zones or when predators might be nearby. But nature rarely follows straight lines, and thankfully, neither does our approach.

Recently, a lion killed a cow in the region we were monitoring. While tragic, this incident revealed an important insight: the lion may not have been actively hunting cattle. Instead, it was likely following a buffalo herd, and the cattle just happened to be in its path.

This behavioral clue led us to pivot and expand the project’s scope. In partnership with EWT, we have now started tagging buffalos as well.

By monitoring both domestic and wild animals, we gain a more complete picture of predator-prey dynamics and landscape use. This layered approach allows conservationists and local farmers alike to make informed decisions that protect both livelihoods and ecosystems.

This marks a new chapter in our ongoing mission to harness satellite technology for coexistence—between people, their animals, and the wild predators that roam the savannah.