Africa
in general and South Africa in particular, present large landscapes with low
density population and low infrastructure, where resources and life forms have
to be monitored, such as water, wildlife and stock animals. However, due to the
large areas concerned, continuous monitoring by personal observation, is not
efficient and practical.
To date relatively little is known about the
ecology of smaller predators responsible for the bulk of human - wildlife
conflict in Southern Africa. One of the greatest problems has been finding
innovative ways to study these elusive animals in rugged and remote regions. The
black-backed jackal is a specific cas in point. This research aims to provide
technological tools enabling multidisciplinary researchers, such as
conservationists, agriculturalists, communal farmers, and socio-economists to
present possible solutions to this problem, which results in huge losses
nationally. Notwithstanding the broader ecological, economic and social
benefits for South Africans, research into predator ecology is also important
internationally.