George said the country had already begun deploying drones in national parks to track and deter illegal poaching activities. He described the initiative as part of a broader national strategy to harness new technology in support of environmental protection.

“As President of the G20 this year, SA has placed a strong emphasis on artificial intelligence and related technologies,” said George. “We’re actively integrating drones into our conservation programmes. Several units are already operational in key parks, giving us real-time visibility of areas targeted by poachers.”

SA is home to the majority of the world’s remaining rhinos and remains a key player in the global effort to prevent their extinction. The Minister said the country is working to build more robust cross-border enforcement partnerships to tackle the illicit wildlife trade.

“We’re committed to reinforcing our cooperation with neighbouring countries and international partners to stop this crisis,” he said.

George made the remarks after the conclusion of a Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora Task Force meeting, where delegates gathered to discuss co-ordinated strategies to protect endangered species.

--ChannelAfrica--