During the first quarter of 2026, GKEPF increased proactive fixed-wing flight support across partner reserves, strengthening aerial capacity in support of wildlife protection, landscape monitoring, and coordinated operational planning.
Over 50 flight hours were completed during the quarter, with operations focused on patrol, surveillance, and monitoring flights aimed at improving situational awareness and providing timely information to assist management and security decision-making during a period of elevated regional pressure.
Working in close collaboration with partner reserves, aerial operations were used to support broader landscape oversight, identify emerging risks, and assist with targeted responses where needed. Fixed-wing support also contributed to wildlife monitoring objectives, helping improve understanding of species distribution, movement, and broader landscape trends.
An example of proactive anti-poaching support was a fixed-wing operation jointly requested by Sabi Sand Nature Reserve, Sabie Game Reserve, and MalaMala Game Reserve in response to elevated regional threat levels. Over two days, more than 10 operational patrol hours were flown using systematic coverage across all three reserves. Wildlife observations, locations, and demographic data were recorded and reported, providing a time-specific overview to help inform ranger deployment, risk assessment, and reserve-level planning.
Flight tracking and reporting through the SMART platform have continued to advance, enabling stronger post-flight reporting and more effective analysis of patrol coverage and operational outputs. These systems support improved planning, coordination, and information sharing across participating partners.
Aerial support remains an important component of GKEPF’s broader protection programme, complementing ground-based efforts and helping reserves make informed decisions across a large and connected landscape.
By investing in practical tools, shared systems, and collaborative support, GKEPF continues to strengthen the collective ability of partners to protect biodiversity across the Greater Kruger.
