Bathawk Recon

Ongoing Confusion Over Drone Anti Poaching
Zimbabwe news sources have brought up the UAV anti poaching viability question once again in an article re posted by The defence web . The article is quite accurate, that’s not the issue, the problem is its completely misleading. In the discussion about UAV usefulness it does say “their effectiveness depends”; but it doesn’t give any appreciation of what it depends on. Are they using a jeweler’s hammer where a 16pound sledge is required, or perhaps visa-versa. It seems the practitioners AND the press insist on keeping the audience in the dark..

ESO Gets Drone Pioneer Award
Bathawk Recon has been recognized through Elephant Survival Organization at a huge UAV convention last week in Berlin. With the hundreds of new applications our UAV Anti Poaching idea caught their attention. This isn’t an award for the best drone: it’s an award for the best drone idea. BHR & ESO deserve this for the long haul to get a Tanzanian project up on the world stage. Three aircraft, three trials and three years of building partnerships. That’s the Private Sector Anti Poaching Initiative part: key to the whole effort!!
https://youtu.be/yoRXaVtbN7g

The key operational players in the four way Memorandum of Understanding to fly drones for anti poaching are TANAPA and Bathawk Recon. The other parties interact with the authorities and funders but the operators will actually do the job and hopefully demonstrate that an “intelligence led” anti poaching surveillance operation can work. Teamwork will be the key as this approach depends on finding intruders based on intelligence and deduction and then bringing rangers to the location. That’s a big shift from the standard ranger patrol tradition.

https://eturbonews.com/164573/tanzania-deploys-drones-national-park-fight-poaching

TANAPA Sign UAV Anti Poaching Agreement!
The Tanzania Park Authority, TANAPA, has signed an agreement with Bathawk Recon and Elephant Survival Organization for a six month “Proof of Concept” UAV Anti Poaching surveillance operation. ESO and BHR call this a major step forward in adding viable aerial surveillance to the anti poaching arsenal. The agreement will put in place an “intelligence led” operation that fits into the new strategies to protect elephants and defend African Wildlife. The operators see success in this operation as a step toward Africa wide application.

Wayne Lotter’s death was a shock to the conservation community in Tanzania. Articles and commentaries are right when they describe him as always interacting with a smile or a joke. But that humor cloaked a profound commitment to conservation and African Wildlife. Yes, even to the extent he know his life was in danger. We have lost an important leader and it is up to the rest of us to figure out what needs to be done to fulfill his legacy. It is certainly what Wayne would want.

Bathawk Recon is directed to change venue of its UAV Anti Poaching plans to Katavi National Park not Tarangire. The company’s goal is to provide a service that is completely mobile and can move from one park to another without missing a beat. Meanwhile the crew is keen as Director Tom Lithgow who has been hundreds of times knows every corner of Katavi. The team is psyched and just waiting for the starting gun, actually just the signature on the authorization. Like the motto says –We Own the Night! To learn more click link http://bat-hawkrecon.com/index.php/proof-of-concept/

Thank You Elephant Survival Organization!
Bathawk Recon is developing strategic UAV Anti Poaching Surveillance Services that it hopes will revolutionize Aerial Reconnaissance in African Protected areas. It’s a tough job which requires innovative solutions combining technology, operations and security in unique ways. Elephant survival organization is our compass that guides us through the complexities of ministerial responsibilities and shapes our approach to the conservation community in Tanzania and especially in the States. Congratulations on opening up your State-Side 501(c)(3) http://elephantsurvival.org/?page_id=26 and affiliate. We wish you the best in your new American fundraising campaign.

East Africa has a new Business Magazine and they have highlighted Bathawk Recon’s UAV Anti Poaching Service on the front page of one of their first editions. The Business Exchange article outlines the poaching crisis, the need for new technologies and the key role drones can play in that equation. It also presents Elephant Survival Organization’s fundraising and advocacy and the Private Sector Anti Poaching Initiative’s partnering with authority. It may seem complex to overseas Foundations and NGO’s but it makes every bit of sense here in East Africa.

Congratulations Tanzania . . . & PSAPI
Our collaborator PSAPI was cited this week in an article in the Tanzanian Guardian. Their post makes an essential point: “People from across the planet agree on the dire situation of biodiversity. And Tanzania has a special place in this concern due to its huge commitment to protected areas and prevalence of iconic species. The partnership of government, law enforcement with communities and the private sector is the next crucial step in ensuring there will always be elephants roaming the African savannah”. Well done PSAPI: Partner up!
http://www.ippmedia.com/en/features/private-sector-joins-gvt-dev-partners-anti-poaching-campaign

Mike Chambers, Director of BHR was invited into the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism by the Permanent Secretary to discuss the PSAPI agenda and BHR’s Anti-Poaching Surveillance service. The Permanent Secretary is an army man, a major general in fact. Mike’s father was a soldier as well who served in WWII. In his family one maxim was never ignored and oft repeated: Reconnaissance is never wasted. It seems the PS is in agreement; the meeting agreed to bring the UAV Anti-Poaching surveillance plan to the Minister. Operational deployment imminent!

Congratulations to Malawi testing UAV AP technology but there’s more to it than launching a drone in the bush. This is a complex equation that requires a solution for multiple variables. Protocols for ranger operations, training for pilots (more like wildlife video ninjas), plans that integrate intelligence; links to extra-park law enforcement and well as relationships to develop human recognition software. Google started this race in 2013 when WWF were quick off the blocks; but they will need to incorporate plenty more to successfully stay in this game.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/13/science/drones-africa-poachers-wildlife.html?_r=0

High Above, Drones Keep Watchful Eyes on Wildlife in Africa Drones seemed like the perfect anti-poaching tools. But deploying them has been far more difficult than conservationists had hoped.

At a UN organized event in Dar es Salaam today Mike Chambers, BHR Director, had a chance to present the Bathawk Recon plan to the Minster of Natural Resources and Tourism, assembled Tanzania business CEOs and members of the International community. The meeting was organized to highlight World Wildlife Day which is tomorrow the third of March. Mike played the Bathawk Recon promo video as he spoke - UAV’s were catapulted into the air – tiny figures crossed a savannah landscape - and the black shapes of kudu stood out in infra red. The Minster seemed to like the action as he has invited BHR and PSAPI to meet as soon as possible.