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SORAI Helps to Give Rangers <span>the Tactical Edge After Dark<span>

SORAI Helps to Give Rangers the Tactical Edge After Dark

SORAI Foundation Funds Night-Time Surveillance Systems to Outpace Poachers in Kruger National Park (KNP). 

In the ongoing battle to protect Africa’s last remaining wild rhino populations, the cover of darkness is both a challenge and a battleground. Poachers exploit the night to move undetected—armed, organised and ruthless. In response, the Kruger National Park is fighting back with eyes in the sky and intelligence at their fingertips.

To support this critical shift in counter-poaching strategy, the SORAI Foundation has funded state-of-the-art ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) systems—a game-changing advancement in nighttime operations.

These powerful thermal camera systems, mounted on fixed-wing aircraft, offer long-range, high-altitude surveillance and real-time intelligence. They help KNP’s elite night operations teams do what was once impossible: locate and monitor poachers in total darkness and respond swiftly and safely.

With fewer than 2,500 white and black rhinos left in Kruger, time is running out. While daytime patrols have reduced some poaching incidents, the overall rhino population is still in decline. Poachers increasingly strike at night, when ranger visibility is limited and human performance naturally decreases. The ISR system closes that gap—providing enhanced situational awareness, tactical precision, and most importantly, a layer of safety for teams operating in high-risk environments.

Flying well above the terrain, ISR aircraft scan vast areas of the park, detecting movement invisible to the naked eye. Once a threat is identified, rangers can act—better informed, better prepared and with far greater confidence.

This isn’t just surveillance. It’s deterrence. It’s pressure. It’s making it harder for poachers to operate with impunity.
And the impact is real. With ISR-supported tactics and teams trained for advanced night operations, Kruger is beginning to deny poachers the freedom to move, hunt, and escape. Every operation that disrupts a syndicate, rescues an animal, or stops a shot fired in the dark brings us one step closer to the ultimate goal: stabilising rhino numbers and, eventually, driving positive population growth.

The technology is sophisticated, but the mission is simple: keep rhinos alive.

While alternatives like drones were considered, they simply couldn’t meet the unique demands of Kruger’s terrain and threat level. Commercial UAVs lack the endurance, altitude and data precision required—and military-grade options like Predator systems are far beyond reach financially. That’s why fixed-wing ISR remains the most viable and effective solution available.

By funding this vital program, the SORAI Foundation is empowering rangers to reclaim the night and helping turn the tide in one of the world’s most urgent conservation crises.