IWB will initially seek to fund innovative technologies to enhance the anti-poaching detection and elimination.
Initial Areas of Interest
Advanced Tracking Collars
- Activity monitoring
- Safe habitat area protection
- Automatic alert systems.
Anti-poaching ‘Mission Specific
- Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs, or drones)
- Technology and supporting communications.
- – Specifically developed, rapid response equipment:
- 4x4s, UAVs, Helicopters
- Rangers’ and Wardens’ Equipment
- Training
- Night Vision Capability
- Intelligence Gathering and Management
- Tactics/strategy analysis.
Challenging Researchers
IWB will endeavour to challenge key ‘game changing’ players, to achieve its stated aims to improve/change animal protection laws and practices by Commissioning academic research, studies and reports, for example:
- How can poachers’ patterns of activity be mapped and ‘predicted?’
- What is the best way to ensure safe protection zones without fences?
- How can large areas be effectively patrolled?
Promoting Legal Redress
CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora) has been in force since 1975. CITES now has some 181 signatory States, but yet the trade in illegal animal parts is rife. How can the enforcement of CITES be improved on an international level?
- Supporting ‘legal’ redress for ‘Illegal’ activities.
- Directly campaigning – governments, businesses and individuals (ie. supporting CECIL’s Law, Huffington Post Link) .
- Seeking ways to provide alternatives for poachers to find a sustainable ‘lifestyle’ without poaching.
- Supporting organisations that share a mutual objective, be that by sharing of knowledge and expertise, or indeed financial support to achieve IWB’s goals.
- Supporting work that gets ‘the message’ out there, such as the recent film Blood Lions.