Our Impacts

Endangered Species protection & wildlife management

Natural resources protection unit.

Illegal wildlife poaching and bushmeat hunting continue to be significant challenges for conservation efforts across Africa, threatening iconic species such as rhinos, elephants, and pangolins. These activities, often linked to organised crime, pose serious risks to biodiversity while reflecting the harsh realities faced by rural communities who depend on natural resources for survival. At Sango, conservation efforts go hand-in-hand with working closely with neighbouring communities to develop sustainable livelihoods. At the same time, Sango maintains a robust, multi-layered Natural Resources Protection Unit (NRPU) dedicated to securing the biodiversity within the conservancy and the broader Savé Valley landscape.

Managed by African Tracking Specialists (ATS) in partnership with Sango, the NRPU is composed of several specialised teams that work together to tackle wildlife crime and illegal resource use. These include general rangers, the Canine Unit, the Rhino Protection Unit (RMPU), aerial surveillance teams, and a dedicated intelligence gathering unit.

Ground patrols form the backbone of Sango’s daily conservation efforts. Approximately 50 general rangers are funded by Sango with 25 to 30 deployed directly within Sango, while the rest contribute to broader security efforts across the Savé Valley Conservancy as part of the SVC Anti-Poaching Unit (APU). Rangers operate in 10-day deployment cycles, conducting daily patrols from strategically placed outposts. All field data collected by the rangers is uploaded to EarthRanger. It is then analysed to guide future patrols, and enhance real-time decision-making, improving both efficiency and effectiveness.

Aerial surveillance significantly boosts the conservancy’s ability to detect and deter illegal activities. Sango and ATS operate a Savannah aircraft, for regular flight operations. Drones are also deployed during high-risk periods, such as dark moons or when concerns arise regarding rhino status or injuries. These aerial assets provide crucial oversight, helping the conservancy to monitor vast areas effectively.

In addition, Sango and ATS have established a specialised intelligence gathering unit that plays a crucial role in detecting and disrupting illegal activities, alongside a dedicated Canine Unit. The Canine Unit is essential for detection, tracking, and apprehension. Operating daily, the unit patrols widely across all land areas and responds to high-risk events, such as gunshots, sightings, or confirmed tracks. With a current capacity of 12 dogs and handlers, the unit conducts approximately 40 patrols each month. These patrol efforts are closely monitored and tracked, with Quick Reaction Force teams equipped with InReach GPS units for real-time tracking of their movements.

Together, these layers of protection form a powerful strategy that allows Sango to maintain a high level of security and deterrence against wildlife crime. By continuously investing in its people, technologies, and intelligence infrastructure, Sango remains at the forefront of proactive, data-driven conservation law enforcement, ensuring the future and success of its wildlife protection for generations to come.