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Tanzanian UAV surveillance company Bathawk Recon has successfully completed a trial of unmanned arial vehicles (UAV) for anti-poaching activities at Mkomazi national park.

Tests were conducted between 12 to 16 September, where Bathawk employed a Super Bat DA-50 that was made in the US.

The gas-powered drone was used to investigate the requirements for Bathawk’s anti-poaching surveillance operations, and passed all the parameters of the trial.

During the five-day programme, the Super Bat was tested for its sound, sensors, range and endurance, and was operated with the help of park rangers.

Super Bat is capable of detecting and tracking people while operating at high altitudes. It can also pinpoint people on via video and infrared.

"Super Bat is capable of detecting and tracking people while operating at high altitudes. It can also pinpoint people on via video and infrared."

According to Bathawk, the Super Bat can fly at a speed of 40k to 70k for up to 10hr at a time. It can operate within a range of 30km and stay in the air for 8hr.

Super Bat, equipped with a 50cc two-stroke engine and 75W electrical generator, can be used both for surveillance and aerial mapping.

Other specifications include 8.5ft x 5.3ft x 2.25ft assembled and 3.5ft x 1.25ft x 1.5ft packed dimensions, TASE 150 or TASE 200 gimbal systems with E/O, IR cameras, wing-mounted digital camera for high-resolution, and emergency parachute recovery system.

In order to address the problem of poaching in Tanzania, Bathawk has offered to provide its services under the Tanzania Private Sector Foundation’s Private Sector Anti-Poaching Initiative.

Bathawk Recon is a Tanzania-registered private company that supplies UAV-based, anti-poaching services to Tanzanian governmental and non-governmental organisations.

Image: Bathawk tested the UAV at Mkomazi National Park with the help of rangers. Photo: courtesy of Bathawk Recon/PRnewswire.