Bathawk, a Tanzanian UAV Anti Poaching surveillance company, has hosted successful trials using a UAV to help in the ongoing battle against poachers targeting endangered animals in Africa.
The UAV trials, held at the Mkomazi National Park, featured the American made Super Bat DA-50 and were held from 12-16 September.
The objective of the trials was to determine if the gas powered long endurance drone could meet Bathawk’s anti-poaching concept requirements. According to Bathawk Recon, after 5 days of flights the Super Bat hit all its performance targets.
US firm, Aviation Unmanned, along with local firms Bathawk and Tanapa put the Super Bat through its paces over the five days and tested sound, sensors, range, endurance and operating in support of rangers.
The Super Bat, operating at maximum altitude could detect and track people and also zoom in on game both in Video and Infra Red. The Super Bat’s range and endurance were confirmed at 30kms (18.6m) distance and 8 hours in the air.
Bathawk is a private company which provides its services under the auspices of the Tanzania Private Sector Foundation’s Private Sector Anti Poaching Initiative which incubates private sector projects to accelerate Tanzania’s reaction to its continuing poaching crisis.
