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, NLCP’s Rhino Project Manager, and Clemmie Borgstein, NLCP’s Cheetah Project Manager, will now conduct regular aerial patrols to monitor the park’s 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.
NLCP noted that this monitoring is particularly important for species such as rhino and cheetah, which are difficult to track in dense bush or across wide terrain. Having qualified pilots embedded within the conservation team will strengthen monitoring efforts and improve protection measures.
