Wildlife Watch and the Black Mambas: Using smartphones and video streams to protect animals

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Samsung and Africam have launched Wildlife Watch, a two-month live-streaming project that allows anyone to become a 'virtual ranger', while also supporting the team that puts real-life boots on the ground.

If you're a wildlife enthusiast, you're probably aware of the live video streams available on Africam, the ad-supported 'profit-for-purpose' website that's dedicated to showcasing African wildlife and increasing conservation awareness. 

Samsung Mobile has teamed up with Africam to launch Wildlife Watch, a two-month pilot project running until 2 May that gives anyone with an internet connection the chance to monitor live video from Balule Nature Reserve in South Africa, report any suspicious incidents, and donate to support the Black Mambas Anti-Poaching Unit. The latter is a pioneering all-female, unarmed, team of rangers who patrol the 500 square kilometres of the Balule reserve daily, checking for poachers and evidence of their activities such as wire snares and fence break-ins.