Two conservation managers from the North Luangwa Conservation Programme NLCP have qualified as pilots, earning their private pilot licences in South Africa earlier this year.
Marileen van der Westhuizen , NLCPs Rhino Project Manager, and Clemmie Borgstein , NLCPs Cheetah Project Manager, will now conduct regular aerial patrols to monitor the parks black rhino population and cheetahs set for reintroduction.
Aerial surveillance plays a central role in conservation operations by enabling rapid monitoring of large, remote areas. From the air, pilots are able to locate individual animals, identify signs of poaching or encroachment and direct ground teams to respond more effectively.