Modern technologies on guard for protected areas
Monday October 23rd, 2017
Catching a poacher or violator in a protected area that lies in a mountain taiga region is a challenging task, especially if there are more than 250 thousand hectares to patrol. In such cases, protection of the area may be enhanced with modern technical devices.
It has been several years since Khakassky Reserve’s state inspectors started using cameras to monitor protected areas and collecting evidence of violation. A camera trap is usually installed in a place where a violator is most likely to appear. Camera automatically takes photos of all moving objects and registers date and time; it works completely silently, shoots in daylight and at night, and can operate in autonomous mode for half a year.
In summer 2017, camera traps installed in Pozarym Wildlife Refuge registered three men with hunting guns who violated the protected borders. As part of cooperation activities between federally protected areas, photos were sent to neighboring regions to identify violators. Soon, all men were recognized as residents of the Kara-Hol Village (Tuva Republic), and currently an administrative case against the violators is being initiated.
Such cooperation between different authorities and regions shows a significant positive effect on protection of reserves and nature parks. More and more people begin to realize that illegal actions in protected areas always have consequences.
Khakassky Reserve plans to acquire new night-vision devices, camera traps, anti-poaching devices, thermographic cameras, and unmanned aerial vehicles. It has become possible thanks to SUEK-Khakassia company that provided financial support to the reserve within the Year of Ecology and Protected Areas in Russia. New devices will help state inspectors prevent violations in protected areas, and quickly respond to threats to the environment.