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ICT SYSTEMS FOR MONITORING AND PROTECTION OF WILDLIFE IN THEIR

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

Article in ВЕТЕРИНАРСКИ ЖУРНАЛ РЕПУБЛИКЕ СРПСКЕ · June 2018

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ICT systems for monitoring and protection of wildlife in their natural environment

DOI: 10.7251/VETJEN1801132M UDK: 639.1.02:004.35

Review scientific paper

ICT SYSTEMS FOR MONITORING AND PROTECTION OF WILDLIFE

IN THEIR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

Branko MARKOVIĆ1*, Drago NEDIĆ2, Savo MINIĆ3

1 Branko Marković, B.Sc.Mech.Eng, „Prointer“ IT Solutions and Services, Vuka Karadžića 2,
Banja Luka, Republika Srpska
2 Dr. Drago N. Nedić, full professor, The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of
Belgrade , Bulevar oslobođenja 18, Beograd Srbija
3 Savo Minić, LL.M , Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of Republic
of Srpska, Trg Republike Srpske 1, Banja Luka, Republika Srpska
* corresponding author: Branko Marković: [email protected]

Abstract: The paper deals with systems for monitoring and protection of wild
animals in their natural environments and the use IoT technologies and solutions
in protected nature reserves. The paper also examines the reasons and possibilities
for implementing the above mentioned technical solutions, especially in terms
of protecting species from the red list of endangered species. In this sense, the
paper also discusses technological solutions and the possibilities of applying IoT
working framework, the concept of the Internet of animals, and the application of
these technologies through various business and research models. Finally, the paper
provides examples of solutions from the point of view of the necessary infrastructure
(servers, storage, internet, animal necklaces, stationary cameras and drones), as
well as from the point of view of data processing and the legal framework for the
application of these solutions.
Key words: IoT, wild animals, endangered species

INTRODUCTION

The problem of research, but also of remote tracking of animals, but

the popularization of wildlife in their also the processing of results and
natural ecosystems today, is gaining measurements, which are posible with
on its actuality for several reasons. The new ICT technologies, and in the fact
main reason for this increased interest in that due to industrial development, a
field research of wildlife in their natural large number of natural environments
environment lies in the possibilities of these animals simply disappeared as
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a consequence of the construction of interest in techniques and technology

civilian infrastructure and the increased for monitoring wildlife in their natural
needs for the living space. In this way, the environment.
living space of wild animals is reduced,
Another important factor causing
and thus the ecosystem’s ability to
increased interest and the use of animal
provide living space, food and other vital
tracking techniques, is reflected in the
needs for a certain number of animals.
activities of the groups for the protection
These processes are unsustainable and
of endangered species that try to ensure
lead directly to the extinction of certain
the survival of wild animals in restricted
endangered species, predominantly
and de facto dysfunctional ecosystems in
predators, which are at the top of the food
a way that it is regulated by nature.
chain in an ecosystem. As the chances
of finding food decrease, wild animals The third important factor is
might desperately seek food outside of definitely the attempt of the biologist
limited and isolated ecosystems which to study the behavior of wild animals in
increases the possibility of an encounter a way that thanks to new non-invasive
between wild animals and people. This technologies they follow them from a
leads to a new pressure, for farmers who distant location avoiding any possible
are directly affected by this behavior interaction with the ecosystem as
of the predators, as well as for the such, and in that way they conduct an
ecosystem itself, because taken actions adequate investigation of the behavior
include hunting which limits the number of both individual members and groups
of predators making it constantly of animals, paying special attention to
reduced and the mentioned species is is the social and territorial behavior of wild
soon coming to the brink of extinction. animals. With this in mind, we should
As everythung in nature is connected, emphasize the following: in order to
this has unimaginable consequences learn about the life and behavior of wild
for the entire ecosystem which over animals, so far we have been limited to
time collapses and in a relatively short individual observations and biological
time transforms into a civil park whose expeditions. A biologist would enter an
characteristics are in line with the ecosystem trying not to disturb it by his
expectations of the population and observing and studying while hoping
serves as a recreation space instead of to discover patterns of wild animal /
a living space for endangered species species behavior and its interaction
which was his original purpose. with other elements or species within
the ecosystem. This method of studying
The ability to monitor wildlife
animals, apart from being long-lasting,
in their surroundings helps prevent
uncertain and extremely tough for the
these situations and this is one of the
researcher, is also based on the most
main commercial reasons of increased
economically advantageous model.
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The entire research is based on the technologies is reflected in the fact that,
expectation that an individual will be thanks to the mentioned technologies
able to see, classify and sort key events in and the application of other ICT
an acceptable time and at an acceptable technologies, the mentioned ecosystems
price. He should also be able to learn and and animals can be presented in a more
understand the behavior of a group of adequate way, which is interesting both
observed animals, recognize the patterns, from the commercial point of view and
draw conclusions and formalizes the at the educational level. This trend will
acquired knowledge by establishing grow as the demographic structure of
scientific principles that are essentially the audience, to which such content is
logically consistent, verifiable and intended, is changing. Young generations
provable. It should be emphasized that experience the perception of reality
the primary requirement regarding the through social networking technologies,
understanding of the animals’ behaviour that are applicable to animals in an
is related to the knowledge of where the ecosystem, rather than in direct contact
animal is and what it is currently doing, with those animals. Thus, the question
because this knowledge, monitored and of the establishment and preservation
recorded over a longer period of time, is of national parks is reduced practically
the basis for further study. Based on the to the recognition of the function of the
aforementioned, the natural necessity same, that is, on the presented reasons
for food, water, movement, rest, and for their existence and managing, that
other physiological needs and habits can is, the way in which animals are treated
be crystallized by a diligent analysis.1 within them, and what popularity they
could achieve on global information
This practice of primarily biological
market.
studies of wild animals began to change
somewhat during the 1960s when, for the This practically means that the
first time, monitoring methods based on survival of individual national parks and
the equipping monitored animals with the animal world in them, especially
adequate active or passive tags (collars, when it comes to large predators from
marking ring) began to be used, along the top of the food chain, depends on an
with a radiogoniometre to approach the adequate presentation of them, through
location and determine the position and ICT technologies, primarily social
daily walk of the animal. networks and profiles, as this is the way
in which the modern population not only
The fourth factor causing an
perceives reality, but also decides on the
increased interest in wildlife monitoring
needs and conditions of funding them.
1 W. W. Cochran, D. W. Warner, J. R. Tester, V. B. Kuechle, Automatic Radio-Tracking System
for Monitoring Animal Movements, Reprinted from BioScience, Vol. 15, No.2, 1965, pp 98-100,
available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/247840577_Automatic_Radio Tracking_
System_for_Monitoring_Animal_Movements
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Other social impacts that affect the depends on the management of local
need for better observation of animals interests, both the interest of hunting
and their behavior in the natural associations and the interests of local
environment farmers. One of the serious problems,
especially when it comes to predators
The activities of the animal protection
from the top of the food chain, which
groups have created pressure on zoos and
are also the most endangered ones One
animal users to provide a more natural
of the serious problems, especially when
environment for animals in this type
it comes to predators from the top of
of detention, both in terms of habitat
the food chain who are also the most
and in terms of the social environment
endagered because they tend to remain
and nutrition. To ensure this, many
without enough food, is reflected in the
zoocentres now create simulated natural
fact that they, in our area especially
habitats and observe the social abilities
wolves and bears, are trying to look for
and behavior of even the most common
food outside forestry farms where they
animals.2 This initiative for protecting
are still imperceptible and therefore
wildlife in zoo gardens, has led to an
protected from hunters to some extent.
increased need for these same animal
If a wolf attacks a domestic animal, in the
species to be studied in their natural
first place the cattle on pasture, not only
environments in order to respond to the
he will be hunted , but probably many
requirements, set up by groups for the
other members of the pack. They are
protection of animal rights, in terms of
automatically proclaimed vermins and
keeping them.
the most restrictive measures are taken
The problem of hunting, fishing and toward all the members of the same
managing hunting resources in areas species. The systems for continuous
not under a special protection regime remote tracking of predators represent
(forests, mountain hills) is reflected in a possible solution to this problem, as
an insufficiently clear methodology for this creates a constant insight into the
the determination of hunting quotas, behavior of animals and their presence
which often do not correspond with any in a certain territory, and it is possible
recognized methodology but with the to create preconditions for releasing the
current needs of civil society around same from the stigma of guilt for cattle
these ecosystems. attacks. In this case, it can be said that
In the areas outside protected nature there is a strong social aspect of the use of
reserves, large predators’ survival animal tracking technologies, since the

2 ERIC SCHMITT, ‘Natural’ Habitats Offer Insights Into Social Behavior of Animals, The New
York Times, January 26, 1988, dostupno na mreži: http://www.nytimes.com/1988/01/26/science/
natural-habitats-offer-insights-into-social-behavior-of-animals.html
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release of animals from a social point of save any protected species, and in the
view also means freeing people. Several long term it will lead to the collapse of
authors emphasize that problems related this ecosystem into desertification land.4
to the ecological crisis that has become From this point of view, it becomes
global are due to anthropomorphic point clear how important it is to have a real
of view and personal interests and that in and regular insight into the movement
order to preserve the existing protected and behavior of wild animals, especially
ecosystems it is necessary to change this predators, because by mimicking
view of the world.3 natural cycles, part of the desertified
soil can be recovered into self-sustaining
Due to the continuous civilization
ecosystems in a shorter period of time.
progress, there are land conversions. Due
to the interruption of natural cycles and Many countries today face the need
the process of violent urbanization, tha to harmonize and organize public
land that was previously part of a special health, cattle health and wildlife health.
Occurrences such as diseases that
ecosystem rapidly depletes to the level of
spread from natural habitats to urban
its transition to completely uninhabited
environments are no longer so rare, as
land which leads to desertification.
we’ve wittnessed with bird flu, hantavirus,
According to Allan Savory, a biologist, and Western Nile virus. Faced with the
this process can be prevented if the land need to protect natural ecosystems,
is used to mimic the natural fluctuations as well as their own population, many
of ecosystems. He claims that the countries, such as Canada, have set
predators’role is to force animals they up special agencies to track wildlife
feed on to move, and thus they do mortality, look for its causes, foreknow
not realize local influence in terms of and try to reduce the risks for public
polluting their environment beyond health.5 Such widespread networks
the limits of self-sustainability of an enable healthcare organizations to work
ecosystem. In this way, the predators preventively rather than reactively, and
actually enable the survival of a complete largely avoid and reduce the negative
ecosystem with all kinds in it. Removing effects of biological hazards that come
the predator from the ecosystem will not
3 Jessica Ellis, Mel Hall, Phil Ong, Leif Wege, Natalie Paterson, Chelsea Smith, Animal Testing at
Dalhousie University: A brief insight into social, economic, and environmental effects of
nonhuman animal testing, Dalhousie University, 2010, available at: https://www.dal.ca/content/
dam/dalhousie/pdf/science/environmental-science-program/ENVS%203502%20projects/2010/
AnimalTesting.pdf
4 Allan Savory, How to green the world’s deserts and reverse climate change | Allan Savory, Published
on Mar 4, 2013, video, 02.03.2017, available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpTHi7O66pI
5 Tyler Stitt, Julie Mountifield, Craig Stephen, Opportunities and obstacles to collecting wildlife
disease data for public health purposes: Results of a pilot study on Vancouver Island, British
Columbia, Canadian Veterinary Journal, 2007 Jan; 48(1): 83–90., available at: https://www.ncbi.
nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1716737/#
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from wildlife. The basic precondition for is, they change according to changes in
the operational work of such agencies the field. It is especially important to
is the widespread sensor network both note that the level of threat increases
in ecosystems and on the very animals. with the decrease in the natural spread
Only the data collected in that way have of the species, ie growing in the case of
sufficient density, and we can rely on endemic species.
their accuracy to avoid the assumptions The largest number of endangered
of the suspicious accuracy that today species is endemic, ie narrowly localized
dominate this field due to insufficient in the distribution and ecologically
data, that is, the collection of data only stenovalent, and the disappearance of
when a phenomenon has already become such species can not be compensated
recognizable. from another reserve “genetic source, as
Remote animal tracking technique is the case with regionally disappearing
is a key technology that provides the species that can be reintroduced from of
gathering of necessary data both in real the preserved populations somewhere
time and in terms of the historical log, so else.6
it can be subjected to Big Data analytics Unfortunately, in Bosnia and
techniques that provide a satisfactory Herzegovina, there are still no Red Lists
level of predictive accuracy, but can at the state level. In RS, a list of protected
also be used as tools to search back to species was adopted in 2012, entitled
the source of the infection or find a “Red list of protected species of flora
biological hazard and trigger that has led and fauna of the Republic of Srpska”
to the onset of the disease. (“Official Gazette of RS” No. 124/12)
in which the categories of endangered
The process of protection and
species of certain species are not given.
legal measures for providing legal,
On the other hand, in 2014, the “Red List
organizational and operational activities
of Wild Species and Subspecies of Plants,
for the protection of endangered species
Animals and Mushrooms” was adopted
The process of protection of an in the FBiH (“Official Gazette of the
endangered species begins with its Federation of BiH”, No. 7/14) in which
identification and recording, and the there is category of threat in addition to
assessment of threat for the purpose each species listed in the document.7
of making the Red List of Threatened
Although the Red Lists are documents
Species. The Red List is an indication of
that should be based on the same
the level of threat of certain species in
internationally accepted methodology, in
a given area. These lists are dynamic in
reality, in BiH there are two completely
nature and are continually updated, that
6 Tatjana Ratknic, 2017: ENDAGERED PLANT SPECIES IN SERBIA, Centre for ecology and forestry
“Sylva”, available at: http://sylva.rs/doc/Ugrozene%20biljne%20vrste%20u%20Srbiji.pdf
7 Protection of endagered species in BiH, blog biolog.ba, 24.05.2017, available at: http://biolog.
ba/58-zastita-ugrozenih-vrsta-u-bih.html
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different documents and it is completely • Vulnerable species;

unclear on which parameters the
• Rare species.
selection and categorization of species
was made. Rare and endangered species are
Due to this, it is difficult to identify protected by law in the way that their
the real threat for certain animal species habitats are declared as strict nature
primarly those with a specific large reserves in which a special regime is
radius of daily and seasonal migrations governed and in which the activity of
lies. These animals often migrate from humans is minimized. Separation of
one legal entity to another, so the threat endangered species and provision of
assessment is based on a “double record” habitats within a closed ecosystem
and is not adequate to the situation on represents the most effective way
the ground. of protecting the species. However,
On the other hand, technical and such legal solutions create specific
organizational protection measures and exclusivity and give special rights to
operational activities on must have their park management as well as to special
explanation and legal foundation that organizations dealing with species
should be based on a realistic assessment protection. Although the legislator’s
of the threat or insight into the state intention is to provide and support the
of the population on the ground. This protection of some endangered species
requires a technical system that provides in this way, the facts on the ground
a permanent insight or at least insight show that giving wide and particularly
with sufficient frequency, which is only exclusive powers is often the source of
possible by building a system for remote corruption and the basis for many illegal
animal tracking and by organizing the and even criminal activities. So it is not
systematic and technical protection of unusual for the park management to
endangered species through a certified behave as monopolists, using the natural
legal framework. resources as a source for acquiring
material and financial profits through
So-called Red books are Red Lists for a trade and / or poaching of the endangered
specific geographical region that are put species that they should protect.
together- these scientific professional Measures of technical protection and,
publications list all types of organisms in particular, infrastructure for remote
that are subject to protection according control of endangered species of plants
to the international classification of the and animals, enables the protection and
level of threat: operational measures for protection of
• Critically endagered species; endangered species and nature reserves
to become transparent and public, and
• Endagered species; to introduce adequate control of the
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protection of endangered species and manner. On the other hand, the

habitats as such. The fact that certain mentioned infrastructure enables wide
park managements oppose this is an popularization and raising awareness of
indirect indicator that clearly shows the wider community regarding the need
that the operations are not carried out to preserve the natural environment and
in an adequate and legally prescribed endangered species in it.
CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT OF NATIONAL PARKS
In order to protect endangered species the status of a national park or other
and their habitats today, institutional nature reserve. Increased demands for
as well as not institutional measures the expansion of civilian infrastructure
are applied. Institutional measures are have nevertheless led to increased
mainly related to the activities of states pressure on these reserves, so there are
and governments, while non institutional indirect negative impacts on protected
measures represent all forms of private areas. These indirect effects are mostly
initiatives to preserve the living world the consequence of the change in the
and bio diversity. The United Nations, micro-climate due to changes in the
as an umbrella organization that, among geophysical properties of the adjacent
other things deals with the organization land - the construction of dams and
of national and international nature artificial lakes can cause changes in
conservation initiatives. It has provided wind blow patterns, change in local
a number of recommendations and humidity and capillary irrigation. The
definitions, as well as standards in the mentioned changes directly affect the
field of conservation of nature and ability of an ecosystem to produce
protection of endangered species. The food for herbivores and therefore for
Act on Endangered Species recognizes the predators that feed on them. The
that fish, wildlife and plants have construction of thermal power plants or
aesthetic, educational, historical, large industrial capacities, a highway or
scientific and recreational values for some other main road in the immediate
people and that a person must protect vicinity of the protected reservation has
these valuse, common to all people.8 a similar impact. In order to avoid this,
there is a legal obligation to develop an
In the past, institutional steps have
impact study. An environmental impact
been taken to protect special nature
study is often wrong in terms of giving
reserves, within which a number of
long-term estimates about how the
protected animal species have been
construction of an infrastructure object
provided with protected habitats in
(civil, utility or energy system) will affect
such a way that a part of the territory in
the environment.
which that species is inhabited is given
8 Randall Abate, What Can Animal Law Learn from Environmental Law?, Environmental Low Institute,
West Academic,2015 pp 160, ISBN 978-1-58576-176-0
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Also, it should be emphasized that ecosystems such as the national

due to global climate change, the parks, modern ICT technology provide
ecosystem’s ability is further reduced multiple advantages compared to
in terms of producing the necessary classical methods and techniques.
amount of food for a certain number of ICT technologies offer the following
animals. This leads to a reduction in the advantages:10
number of animals and their extinction
• Enable determination of the exact
unless a person intervenes in critical
population that settles the habitat within
periods. The intervention primarily
the protected area
involves feeding starved animals through
organized feeding facilities without a • Provide a clear insight into the extent
direct encounter between the rangers of the territory by individual members
and the wild animals. and species (one animal’s territory, herd
territory)
In order to be successful this type
of temporary feeding must correspond • Show if there are ‘surplus’ animals
with the habits of animals, with their that do not have their own territory and
natural migrations and daily needs. That which can be transferred to another
is why adequate and current information protected area
provided by the remote animal tracking • Provide insight into distribution
system is necessary for rangers and patterns of particular species in a given
especially veterinarians and biologists. area, by space and time
In this regard, it is important to note
that the conservation and management • Enable the monitoring and
of national parks can no longer be preservation of biodiversity
isolated attempts of park management • Provide quick feedback data
and their teams to protect them, but the
Network infrastructure is the
protection in terms of monitoring the
biggest problem with applying new
conditions must be extended beyond the
ICT technologies to protected nature
sphere of protected areas and work on
reserves. Most ICT technologies are
protection projects must be performed
applied in a way that data collection
in the wider community.9
processes are separated from the process
In terms of nature conservation of processing and obtaining information,
and conservation of individual isolated both scientific and operational

9 Fish and Wildlife Service I&M: Connecting Science-driven Monitoring to Management, National
Wildlife Refuge System Inventory and Monitoring (I&M) initiative, Published on 4 Aug 2012, video,
23.12.2016, available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XutmC7QRGUM
10 Priya Joshi, Wildlife conservation through innovative technology: Priya Joshi at TEDxKathmandu,
TEDx Talks, Published on 10 Jan 2013, video, 24.12.2016, available at: https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=bgM5kHZYrO8
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ones in terms of management and drones, balloons or small airships). The

popularization. For the former ones, it fact that Canada is planning to introduce
is necessary to provide a network and / wi-fi in its national parks and thus enable
or internet to protected nature reserves, faster and easier data transfer than that
while the latter ones are processed in one based on mobile technology proves
separate data centers and / or within a that the idea of installing and using
cloud solution. It is clear that the most wi-fi technology gets its supporters.11
expensive and technically demanding Such plans and implemented solutions
part is equipping the entire protected clearly point to the aim of reducing
area with the necessary infrastructure to the operational costs of national parks,
provide internet access. while improving and raising the quality
of advertising and the provision of
In areas where the degree of
distance attendance, for animal lovers
protection is lower, this is achieved by
and for scientific and educational
using standard wi-fi technology with
purposes.It is important to emphasize
minimal temporary disturbance of the
that without the construction of the
natural habitat during the installation
appropriate wi-fi network infrastructure
of the cable infrastructure connecting
there is practically no possibility to apply
the end nodes and base stations. In the
modern ICT technologies in the field of
case of bringing the Internet in the areas
monitoring and management of nature
with higher level of protection, this
reserves and protection of endangered
is done exclusively by the use of wi-fi
species. For adequate data collection, it
technologies where the base stations are
is necessary to have a network whose
placed on the periphery of the protected
transmission latency corresponds to the
area. In the case of the rainforest, due
amount of generated traffic. It is known
to the high density of vegetation, the
that IoT devices, especially sensors
above solutions would not be sufficiently
requiring emulation of continuous
effective. Therefore it is necessary to
monitoring, generate large amounts of
cover one part of the rainforest with
data to be transported to the central
access points used for network devices
server on which the data processing will
installed in the animal collars that are
be done and the necessary information
monitored from the air. (AP mounted on
will be generated.
IOT FRAMEWORK
One of the important advantages of natural habitats using IoT technologies
the wildlife monitoring system in their is reflected in the greater transparency

11 Wi-Fi in the woods: Canada plans to install web hotspots across its national parks and historic sites,
Daily Mail, 29 April 2014, On Line izdanje, 24.12.2016, available at: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/
sciencetech/article-2616007/Wi-Fi-woods-Canada-plans-install-web-hotspots-national-parks-
historic-sites.html#ixzz4TmNxjQeH
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of the ecosystem process. In that way management which can be called

we can learn how the ecosystem works real-time management based on real
and not only focus on the salvation of information. This kind of management
one endangered species, because such represents a quantitative and qualitative
a restricted approach often does not leap from the former management
give results. If we turn the monitored style. Also, the IoT framework is an
animal into a kind of a digital product opportunity to turn ideas into digital
it will create millions of specific products and this raises the question
measurements12, that is, the data needed of whether this method can turn a
to create a deeper and better insight into rainforest into a digital product which
its life, but also the behavior, habits and would be self-sustainable economic
overall biological needs of the whole model that would protect the rainforest.
species. IoT and BigData solutions allow There is an idea to find new business
us to collect and process a large number models to facilitate the operation of
of data and to create new insights based protected nature reserves. By converting
on it. The best indicator of how advanced a national park or protected species into
this technology is in terms of providing a digital product, it is possible not only
new insights is the fact that it is being to popularize the idea of protection, but
increasingly mentuoned in scholarly it is also possible to obtain additional
literature. financial resources to support the work
of the nature reserve itself.
The reasons why today’s development
can be described as the Biotelemetry ICT helps build both social and
Revolution are: infrastructural capacity that is a
prerequisite for spreading the awareness
• Devices are smaller in size and
of the necessity of protecting endangered
mass, there are a large number of small
animal species, and it does so in the
integrated GPS devices on the market
following ways:13
• Thanks to Cloud technologies, it is
• Raising the general level of public
possible to collect partial data streams
awareness of the problems of survival
and combine them in order to obtain the
and protection of endangered species
most reliable information either in real-
time or delayed. • Provides educational opportunities
It should be noted that not only does • Provides opportunities for
IoT and Big Data provide new scientific professional development of necessary
insights, but also a new form of resource staff to protect endagered speices
12 Daniel Smith, 2015 September Webinar IoAHTedited, TheCSAlliance, University of Cambrige,
Cambrige Service Alliance, Published on Sep 15, 2015, video, 23.02.2017, available at: https://www.
youtube.com/watch?v=DQew3ESgZoQ
13 John Houghton, ICT and the environment in developing countries: opportunities and developments,
Centre for Strategic Economic Studies, Victoria University, Australia, October 2009,
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ANIMAL INTERNET
One way of transforming protected mouse)14. In this way, the attention
animals into a digital product is their of the audience is maintained, and all
popularization through the so-called “uninteresting frames, that is,” boring
animal Internet and animal social “periods when the animal rests and does
networks. Animal internet represents nothing” are deleted.
the level of services directly derived • The ability of the user to locate and
from the IoT solution while the animal find an animal at any time and record it
social network can be described as a (exclusive recording) - thanks to the fact
marketing strategy for applying social that the necklaces send GPS coordinates,
networking techniques to popularize
• Possibility to locate and locate
protected animal species, creating and
an animal at any time and record it
strengthening links between younger
(exclusive recording) - Due to the fact
generation and endangered animals and
that necklaces send GPS coordinates,
as a marketing and business platform
the users of the network can position
for commercial business activities and
themselves at the same dron coordinates
raising funds for the preservation of the
and capture an exclusive recording
mentioned species - contributions to
which is additonally charged.
the rangers, the nutrition, the necessary
infrastructure, the sale of art objects and • Possibility of interactive
souvenirs in order to obtain funds. transmission of wolves or lynx hunting
(also using multiple drones allowing
Some of the techniques used in the
interactive transmission)
application of ICT technologies in real
business related to the conservation of Also, if the visitors of the national
protected species are: park find themselves in direct contact
with large predators, there is the
• National Geographic has made a
possibility of timely remote notification
website - aggregator - showing images
of the danger. About the possibility of
of all the animals to which cameras are
using the Internet as an interface for
attached, and site users see the same
connecting different biological species,
things as animals.
one of the Internet designers Vint Cerf
• We can use the infrastructure and made the following statement: “When
triggers in such a way that an animal the internet was designed, we thought it
sends a twit or a message when it catches was a system that connects computers,
a prey (for example, the cat catches the and it turned out to be the system that

14 Dr Genevieve Bell, The Internet of Beings: Or, What are the Animals Telling Us?, Research
Computing Centre, Published on Aug 9, 2016, video, 23.02.2017, available at: https://www.youtube.
com/watch?v=iEosTaPyxOs
15 Vint Cerf, The interspecies Internet? An idea in progress..., TED, Published on Jul 10, 2013, video,
23.02.2017, available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGMLhaa98GI
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connects people, what we now see is that diseased animals as quickly as possible
we should not restrict the network to with the non-invasive method and cure
existing types of connections, but other them. In such situations it is particularly
intelligent types should use the network important to quickly and easily locate
as well.15” As more and more torists are the animal and its movement, which
visiting national parks, the likelihood of is greatly facilitated by the use of GPS
a casual encounter between tourists and modems and wi-fi devices embedded in
animals within the park increases. More necklaces and / or bracelets attached
importantly, wild animals in the natural to animals (Project Code: 1810, 2017)16
environment often suffer from illnesses In this way, a clear insight into the
that can be transmitted to humans, so movement of animals is achieved and
it is of great importance to treat the animals leaving the protected areas
injuries and illnesses of wild animals and attacking farmers’ livestock can be
so they wouldn’t spread beyond the traced. Therefore, it is possible to locate
boundaries of the national park. Because the attackers, to identify their habits and
of this it is crucially important to find to compensate the damage to farmers.

ELEMENTS OF THE SYSTEM

REPETITORS AND AP
Remote monitoring of animals was requirement often limited the use of
earlier done by using technologies radio waves devices in specially protected
based on emission techniques in the ecosystems such as rainforests, because
area of publicly available frequencies placing them in a protected ecosystem
and radio devices. This technology is would essentially disrupt them which
reliable, but rather obsolete because was not allowed by the laws on nature
devices are bulky, and a relatively large conservation. Due to the massiveness
amount of energy is required to power of the transmitter antennas, it was not
them. Also, one of the disadvantages of possible to put them in the air so this
the mentioned technology is that for was an additional disadvantage in terms
monitoring purposes it is necessary to of adequate monitoring of wild animals.
build a number of stationary transmitters The emergence of new ICT technologies,
that are massive and they must be placed primarily wifi technology and then
on the antenna poles that are at a mutual mobile Internet technology has made it
distance in proportion to the half of the possible to overcome these shortcomings,
wavelength EMS they use. This technical and to make the appropriate non-

16 GPS based Wildlife animal tracking system, Microtronics Technologies, blog, 24.02.2017, available
at: http://www.projectsof8051.com/gps-based-wildlife-animal-tracking-system/
17 Project Loon : Now Google launches BALLOONS in bid to bring internet to the remotest places on
Eart, PatrynWorldLatestNew, Published on Jun 15, 2013, video, 24.02.2017, available at: https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0iqX9Lq5B8
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invasive infrastructure necessary to immediately after major disasters. By

track wildlife movements. As protected using LTE technology and balloons, the
national parks and other nature reserves speed of 15 MB / s and 40 MB / s can
are located far from urban areas, there be achieved, depending on the operating
are many technical, organizational and range and characteristics of the client’s
economic constraints on the use of ICT WiFi wifi device.18 For large areas and
technologies, especially in environments wider protected areas Wi-Fi technology
such as the jungle. It is difficult to becomes inadequate and it has to be
achieve an economically viable Internet replaced with GPS and GSM technology
infrastructure in remote and inaccessible to keep track of animals in the wider
regions. Google’s project Loon secures area. If the number of transmitters
reliable internet access at high speeds increases in terms of increasing the
and bandwidths in remote and rural density, the density of the network used
areas in an economically viable way.17 for positioning also increases. For exact
The project uses high-altitude balloons spatial positioning, the tag being tracked
as repeaters or WiFi AP devices placed has to be accessible or connected to at
in the stratosphere to create an aerial least three APs. Another advantage of
wireless network and it has shown a high wi-fi technology is that the AP can also
level of reliability. The repetitor set up so be positioned in the air, or placed on the
highly allows people and animals to have drones and / or balloons above the area
a signal where they have not previously that should not be disturbed by placing
had it and to connect to the Internet infrastructure elements.
COLLARS

Another important element of the is most often a ring placed on a leg in

wildlife monitoring system in their the form of a passive antenna, enabling
natural environment is the passive tag, tracking of the animal’s location, but
that is, the necklace containing the not the monitoring of some other life
wi-fi device recently integrated with functions. All monitoring systems based
the sensors to monitor the physiology on placing necklaces or other active
and metabolism of the animal. Larger markers / sensors on animals have one
animals, especially predators, such as drawback. They rely on batteries as
lions, bears, lynxes or wolves with ease an energy source, so the necklaces, or
wear these collars easily and they do batteries, must be changed from time
not hinder the normal performance of to time in order for the device to work.
all daily activities. Due to the weight This problem could be solved by using
limit, when it comes to birds, this tag low power consumption sensors and

18 Inside Google’s wildly ambitious internet balloon project, The Verge, Published on Mar 2, 2015,
video, 24.02.2017, available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFGW2sZsUiQ
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modems but even in that case battery • Adaptability of the device to animal
consumption is a problem. behavior
For some larger birds, predominantly • Attaching method and location
vultures, it is possible to use a collar with
Modern tracking systems must
a limited number of sensors while GPS
support 2D and 3D modes of wildlife
modem is used for locating them. The
monitoring. The 3D monitoring mode
accuracy of monitoring with this type
is especially interesting for birds, fish,
of collar is defined at a resolution of
large mammals living in the sea or lake
500 meters if the base stations are used
waters, animals living in tree canopy,
for goniometry, while it is significantly
animals with periodic migration from
increased if the goniometry is performed
north to south, or vertical migrations to
with the moving object (drones for
more and lower regions.
active goniometry) and can be reduced
to below 10 meters.19 The 3D position Some of the areas where collar
is usually obtained by interpolation technology is applied today are:21
between measuring points obtained by • Identification of an individual
direct measurement.20 This is due to animal in a group
the fact that most land animals fairly
move in the vertical plane - rare, mostly • Tracking the animal and its
periodic seasonal migrations. movement, as well as social behavior

Tracking devices (collars) can be • Monitoring of animal health

sorted according to the following • Communication between animals
characteristics: and humans and between animals and
• The type of device and technology things (eg feeder, warer troughs, etc.)
used • Behavior regulatory mechanisms
• Energy budget and operating (various types of speakers that are
autonomy carried on the collar and can be remotely
activated whenever an animal enters
• Device size forbidden area)
• Number of sensors integrated in the Since the autonomy of the device
device and their accuracy depends on the number of logs that the
• Data rate and network truthput device will send to a server in the unit of

19 M.K.Nor, M.S. Masbop, Smart Livestock Tracker, The International Journal of Engineering And
Science (IJES), 2015, Volume 4, Issue 7, PP 25-29, ISBN (e): 2319-1813, ISSN (p): 2319-1805
20 Dr Robert Sinkovits: Improving Wildlife Tracking via HPC, Research Computing Centre, Published
on 7 Dec 2015, video, 23.12.2016, available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uubLZwIuEjU
21 Lena M Holmberg, Internet of Animals, 05.07.2016, blog, 03.03.2017, available at: http://
lenamholmberg.blogspot.ba/2016/05/internet-of-animals.html
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time, an acceptable flow time is required males. Also, cubs must not be equipped
for each type of monitored animal. with collars until they reach full maturity
This flow time depends on the species due to intense growth. Once the battery
and gender, but also the lifestyle and dies the whole collar should be changed
behavior of the individual. For example, because it has to stay impermeable so
tagged fish can be tracked for up to two that the sensor system and antenna can
years after setting up a tracking devices. work. Most collars are made in so-called
The energy budget must enable at least vandal proof housings in a part related
half of the annual cycle - the collars to antenna, power supply and sensor
must not be changed during the mating storage (IP67 standard).
season due to the aggressiveness of the
DRONES

The problem of covering the territory, being used for monitoring, recording
namely, monitoring the population and controlling individual animals,
with a minimum number of static and drones are also used in national parks to
dynamic sensor systems is resolved by control the periphery, prevent curls and/
an optimal combination of static devices or cutting of forest in a protected area.
and dynamically robotized autonomous In this way, drones become an essential
systems (often called drones) for data tool for improving the work of the ranger
collection. The optimum number of service, but also for controlling their
drones for the highly popular digital web work, as they enable the global insight
platform, that is, the extremely popular of the public into events and possible
social group of animals, can be estimated illegal activities within national parks.
at about half of the population, meaning Drones are also used to collect data on
that one dron can adequately monitor distributed systems such as flocks of
more members of species, especially fish or mosquitos or other flying insects
those species that gather in packs and and birds. The use of autonomous
herds. robots allows a much wider image than
the static devices because, besides the
A large number of drones in such
geometric data (position, distribution,
scenarios are used for individual
trajectory), it also provides a number
monitoring of single males, who may
of semantic information such as the
be expected to attack dominant males
number of defective fruits (apples) on
and attempt to secure their position and
the tree.22
entitlement to females. In this way not
too much time is spent on unattractive The first task of automated robotic
content when animals rest and do systems for the monitoring of wild
nothing that would keep the audience animals in nature is to find or, to detect
particularly entertained. In addition to the signal from the necklace, ie, the
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tag. This task in terms of dispersedly of the current state of the system, that
distributed systems such as flocks or bird is, allowing real movement through the
flies can be performed with automatic elements of the system in all directions.
search algorithms: a dron travels over The advantages of using drones in terms
some surface and searches for the of protecting national parks, as well as
signals which then are processesed insights into the life and behavior of wild
(counts, collects data after initiating animals compared to other technologies
communication, etc.), then it sends to are reflected in:23
some cloud location where business
• Cheap technology (compared to
logic and mapping software, that gives
airplanes, and a large on-site patrol
GIS data through a map of a terrain are
service)
located.
• Easy to use
Covering the territory with
autonomous robots is done using the • Available for use (standard
following search techniques: technology that is rapidly evolving)
• Stationary coverage search model • Multifunctional platform - can be
used for tracking animals, collecting
• Stochastic model - the random
data from collars and sensors attached to
movement of the drones that collect data
animals, capturing nature and animals
• Contradictory - cross-collecting in nature, tracking people (tourists, lost
data with the following two game theory people, searching for and preventing
models: the activity of hunters and those who
try illegal logging), early detection and
o Active avoidance of the meeting
localization of the fire, notification
o Avoidance game (cat and mouse of the closest patrol of the rangers,
game) supporting field operations, support for
LiDAR cameras are often used as quick responses
active devices for capturing the state Additional advantages of using drones
of the drones. Their resolution is large can be counted as follows:24
enough to map all recorded elements
• Easy location of fairly hard-to-
of the ecosystem, giving real 3D views
spot animals (Orangutans, Gorillas,
22 Ibrahim Volkan Isler, Associate Professor, University of Minnesota, RI Seminar: Ibrahim Volkan
Isler: Robotic Data Gathering in the Wild, November 04, 2016, video, 23.12.2016, available at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcTUv0wW7J8
23 Wildlife conservation with the help of drones: Kitso Epema at TEDxUtrecht, TEDx Talks, Published
on 28 Apr 2014, video, 23.12.2016, available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LT9q6kra9Oc
24 Using drones to conserve natural habitats | Professor Serge Wich | TEDxLiverpool, TEDx
Talks, Published on 20 Aug 2014, video, 23.12.2016, available at: https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=GTsMi43Mugo
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Chimpanzees in tropical forests) - thanks drones

to dronos it is easy to detect and track
Although drones are perhaps the
migrations most efficient platforms for monitoring
• Ai technologies (automatic optical the lives of wildlife in their natural
recognition) increase the probability of environment and therefore extremely
recognizing settlement in tree canopies interesting technical solutions, their
• Drones can be used in the “data usage is hampered by the fact that the
mule” scenario, where they collect data drones are a new legal area in which
from sensors and cameras (static) to there are no clear regulations
free memory for future work, emptying and the legislators are late with
data loggers. Due to the low flying the legal framework for their use. A
potential, communication is possible particular problem of the use of drones
in the near field, so less energy is used for this purpose is the fact that drones
for communication and there is the are usually not produced in the countries
possibility of uploading large files (HD of use and that for their production
cameras) there are no clear quality standards that
• Compared to conventional manual producers and importers should adhere
animal data collection, drones are up to to. Since drowns belong to aircraft,
200 times more effective than humans in most countries, they are subject to
(it takes about 20 minutes for drone special regulatory commissions and air
to locate animals and collect data from traffic control (if the flight exceeds a
monitoring devices while biologists certain threshold defined by local laws)
and the rangers need up to 3 days for and the flight is carried out beyond the
the same task (using hunting tracking limited airport areas. A special problem
techniques) is also the fact that drones are most
• Drones can fly low enough and give commonly used for aerial scouting
images of large resolutions, as well as with mounted cameras that can be
record in infrared misused for unauthorized surveillance,
• They can be made as DIY project monitoring and even for the purpose of
voyaging, which all falls under special
• Due to the high cost-savings based
laws that are not extended in most of the
on their high efficiency, it is possible
countries even to this new legal domain.
to reallocate budget resources and
purchase additional equipment (other Considering legal, moral and other
types of hardware and software that can limitations of the use of the drones,
be used on drone platforms) we must ask and resolve the following
Legal restrictions on the use of questions:25
automatic robotic systems and handheld • Who regulates the rights to use the
25 Best and worst states when it comes to drone laws, Drone U, Published on 6 Sep 2016, video,
24.12.2016, availabe at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7DEAXLXeZY
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aircraft and in what way? legally prohibit their use in national

parks, for example Mexico.
• How to get a drone license? Who
issues a license or this area hasn’t been In some US states, this ban has been
regulated yet? expanded due to possible voyeurism and
/ or drug trafficking across the border,
• Who is responsible for the fall
and the use of this technology in border
of the aircraft? Especially if, with its
areas can lead to up to 5 years in prison.
fall, it causes material damage and / or
endangers human lives? Even in cases where certain areas of
application of drones are regulated, there
• Are there legal procedures for the
is a lawful possibility of a lawsuit, but in
maintenance of the aircraft? Are there
that case, one who complains about a
any certifications and what kind of
breach of privacy must prove that there
experts issuethem to both aircraft and
was an intention to abuse this technology
those who maintain them?
in order to violate the complainant’s
• Should a dron have its own logbook privacy. Counterargument in such a
and how it is being kept? legal battle is certainly a reference to a
• In the case of a DIY drone, who reasonable expectation of privacy with
issues an operating license? How to regard to modern technologies that
control the quality of production and have similar possibilities of insight into
whether the safety standards are met? someone’s privacy. This is particularly
interesting since the hunters and tourists
• How are the drones with instruments who have violated some of the rules of
in the visible spectrum regulated, the national park (burning fire, throwing
regarding the privacy of those that can garbage, damaging the crop etc) are most
be covered with recorded material? often the ones who complain about the
• What is the minimum flight altitude violation of privacy, so for the purpose of
- prescribed by the air traffic control applying drones as a means of protecting
agency? the natural environment for wildlife
it is necessary to have the appropriate
• Does any state authority - the
clear legal regulation to clearly and
agency you are addressing, have the
unambiguously regulate this area.
competencies to answer your questions
regarding the regulations governing the
use of drones?
What is particularly important to
emphasize is the fact that although drones
are an ideal platform for application in
the field of monitoring wild animals in
their natural habitats, certain countries
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SERVER INFRASTRUCTURE AND SOFTWARE

The next significant part of the protected territory and necessary data
infrastructure is the server and storage for biologists, veterinarians and analysts
infrastructure that can be implemented to make adequate analysis and scientific
as a cloud solution, which means that it and expert studies of animal behavior.
does not have to be directly connected The hardware infrastructure elements
to the location. The benefits of such of the data center include: Server,
performance are primarily reflected Storage devices, frirewall, DRC, or the
in the ability to provide an adequate following virtual inn infrastructure: VM-
infrastructure that would, depending web server, VM-RBDMS, VM-image,
on the access rights and capabilities of FTP, VM-AVServer, VM-AppServer,
the client software, give the various VM-InteroperabilitySystem, VM-
interested parties exact information and ImageSocialNetwork. All of the above
data they need. Also it would seperate hardware and software infrastructure
obtained data in those that would be can be implemented as a service that is
used for marketing presentation of rented for a certain period, so in this way
animals in order to create a critical it is possible to facilitate the financing of
mass of the on-line followers and animal tracking projects, whether they
provide funding for a national park are of the commercial nature or part of
or other form of organization in the a scientific research.
DATA COLLECTION

The ability to collect and process place at two separate levels: at the data
credible information on various level of the animal itself, monitoring and
aspects of the environment enables recording data - animal status indicators
quality control and management, both and and at ecosystem level, monitoring
of natural resources and of external and reporting environmental parameters
influences that can endanger the taken from a wider ecosystem. ICT
environment.26 With good selection systems implemented in a proactive way
of data collection technology we can ensure the sustainability and protection
collect data in a minimally invasive way of the ecosystem as a whole, and not
regarding interference in the ecosystem, just of individual biological species. It
so the risks related to environmental is also important to note the following
security related to data collection can facts. Without the use of IoT technology
be minimized. Data collection can take in practice, veterinarians base their

26 Mira Mileusnić Škrtić, Karolina Horvatiničić, Dragutin Vuković, Risks and opportunities for applying
new technologies in terms of environmental protection and sustainability - from the aspect of ICT
application, , scientific symposium DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENT - PERSPECTIVE OF
SUSTAINABILITY , 2011, available at: https://bib.irb.hr/datoteka/550944.Rizici_i_mogucnosti_
primjene_novih_tehnologija.pdf
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patient knowledge and their concerns BigData model, application of machine

on short consultations with rangerss learning algorithms and artificial
and biologists who have observed intelligence is very likely. Also, these
unusual behavior of the animal.27 Most data collection technologies have great
of the national parks take care of their advantages when assessing the load of
animal and protected species in this way, an isolated ecosystem with the number
because so far it has been the usual form of members of a certain species. Today
of animal monitoring and management. forestry farms are most often managed
Since this is a very unreliable way of on the basis of data representing the
monitoring health, the development of population’s estimation of a species.
integrated cloud based solutions over
For example, for predators, it is
the collected data is directed towards
necessary to estimate the number at least
finding algorithms that would create
3 times a year depending on the change
a matrix of behavior patterns for each
of seasons and the period of mating and
individual animal and compare it with
raising the young. the following data is
the current behavior of the animal, and
taken as the methods for assessment:
on the basis of it, determine whether the
directly collected, indirectly collected,
animal behaves in the limits of the usual
re-capture and counting of animals and
behavior or beyond those boundaries. In
estimation of population density based
case of unusual behavior mechanisms
on presumed social behavior of animals
for additional monitoring and veterinary
using statistical methods.29 In this way,
team would be included. It is important
accurate data are often not obtained,
to state out that for most wild animals,
and abusive calculations of both large
there is no clear reference range for
and capital prey are also possible. The
biological indicators because enough
population counting and statistical
measurements, that could be a reliable
methods in the future will be replace
predictor of future animal behavior
with systems for direct monitoring of
and assessment of its health status,
wild animals, which at the same time will
have never been performed.28 This
become a media platform for spreading
circumstance leads to reduced accuracy
awareness about the need to preserve
in prediction of animal behavior, but
the species. By collecting real-time data
also the necessity to reach this data as
from the field, it is possible to make well-
quickly as possible, so besides the classic
27 Anne Accardi, How the Internet of Things is Impacting Animal Health Part 2: Companion Animals,
11.09.2017, Engage Mobile, 03.03.2017, dostupno na mreži: http://www.engagemobile.com/how-
the-internet-of-things-is-impacting-animal-health-part-2-companion-animals/
28 Dr Elisabetta Canali, ANIMAL WELFARE ASSESSMENT THROUGH SMARTPHONE
APPLICATIONS: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES, OIEVideo, Published on Dec 7, 2016,
video, 02.03.2017, available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FK1vcb-G9nk
29 ESTIMATING WILDLIFE POPULATIONS, FW (ZO) 353, Wildlife Management, 02.03.2017,
available at: https://projects.ncsu.edu/cals/course/fw353/Estimate.htm
178 Ветеринарски журнал Републике Српске
Veterinary Journal of Republic of Srpska (Бања Лука-Banja Luka), Вол/Vol.XVIII, Бр/No.1, 132‒181, 2018
B. Marković et all:
ICT systems for monitoring and protection of wildlife in their natural environment

based and informed decisions regarding anticipate adequate scenarios for critical
the maintenance of ecosystems within situations.
the limits of biological capabilities and
CONCLUSION

From all of this, it is evident that operations related to the protection of

modern ICT technologies represent not animals is a priority in the near future.
only a technological basis for collecting This is even more important given the
data for scientific and professional fact that the above-mentioned business
wildlife behavior studies, but also model based on the business model of the
a very useful basis for monitoring animal internet and endangered species
and managing real operations within itself involves the provision of financial
national parks. An implementation of resources necessary for protection,
these technologies in order to achieve thereby reducing the burden on the
educational, scientific and commercial budget and the processes of wildlife
goals, and in the long term, allow the protection becoming transparent and
additional financing of parks and all self-sustainable.

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Paper received: 18.6.2017.

Paper accepted: 18.4.2018.

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