Off-grid ‘LoRa’ mesh network deployed at ERP game reserve in South Africa.

The Group’s affiliated nonprofit, Elephants, Rhinos & People (ERP), in partnership with conservation technology startup Terrasense, recently deployed a bespoke LoRa (Long Range, low-power wireless) mesh network at an ERP game reserve in South Africa.

The system establishes a fully off-grid tracking and communication network, providing reliable connectivity across the reserve, independently of conventional cellular infrastructure. The technology forms part of ERP’s ongoing efforts to strengthen sustainable conservation practices and anti-poaching operations.

Developed by Terrasense using an ‘animal-first’ technology approach, the system enables highly-detailed monitoring of movement patterns, while minimizing the need for invasive tracking methods. The network facilitates the collection of granular data, including more than 24,000 data points over a 21-day period, yielding deep insight into the movement of vehicles, rangers and drones across the protected area.

Originally conceived to solve technical challenges associated with monitoring pangolins, the world’s most trafficked mammal, the technology has since demonstrated broader applications for wildlife conservation. At this ERP game reserve, the mesh network also creates a resilient communications backbone, particularly valuable in remote environments where cellular connectivity can be unreliable due to infrastructure constraints and power interruptions.