Protecting Wildlife with Alpha Aid

Non-Profit Organisation (NPO), Alpha Aid works globally to protect endangered wildlife from illegal poaching, with a strong focus on the conservation of African species such as rhinos and elephants. They combat wildlife crime and hunt poachers, helping to dismantle organised crime rings that profit from illegal wildlife trafficking.

Alpha Aid operates in remote, hostile environments, where poachers are often heavily armed and highly organised. Teams need real-time, secure communication with clear audio for effective coordination and to ensure the safety of both the team and the wildlife they protect.

Their key challenges included:

• Lack of reliable communication networks in remote areas.
• The need for secure, encrypted communications to prevent poachers from intercepting sensitive data.
• The difficulty of maintaining connectivity across vast, rough terrain, while coordinating multiple patrols and operations simultaneously.

Supporting these teams in the field with consistent, reliable communications, Alpha Aid has deployed SC20 VHF TETRA radios, alongside HBC3s and SCG22 mobile radios, for extended critical communications coverage. The benefits of using VHF TETRA in these environments include:

• Reliability: Uninterrupted connectivity for teams on the ground who need to be in contact with base camps and local authorities during surveillance and critical operations where time sensitive responses are needed
• Security: Encrypted communications prevent poachers from intercepting sensitive information during field operations
• Ease and Speed of Deployment: Rapid deployment of radios, while offering the benefit of extended coverage across vast, rough terrain
• Durability: Dustproof design boasts IP65, IP66, IP67 and IP68 environmental protection ratings, making the SC20 hand portable the perfect device for the demanding, hot, wet and dusty terrain that Alpha Aid faces daily
• Extended Battery Life: With Alpha Aid spending long hours or days in the field, Sepura’s radios provide the battery longevity needed to maintain operations without frequent recharging
• Accessories: Robust hands-free communication accessories ensured operational safety, situational awareness and ease during high-pressure situations

Alpha Aid recently used Sepura radios during a covert operation in Namibia, where they successfully tracked a group of poachers attempting to target a rhino population.

Also, during a mission in South Africa’s Kruger National Park, Sepura radios facilitated seamless coordination between teams, allowing Alpha Aid to dismantle a major illegal poaching syndicate.