Phases
We currently have 5 Phases planned for Terrasense
1. Prototype Development & Bio adhesive Testing
We will first refine the core technology components of our system while testing the adhesive and remote deployment methods in parallel
Species-Specific Antenna Design: Develop custom RFID antennas tailored to different species, such as pangolin-scale antennas designed for natural integration
Receiver Network Testing: Validate self-administering, solar-powered RF receiver nodes with LoRa-based data transmission, ensuring stable long-range tracking
Software & AI Model Training: Optimize movement analysis models and RF signal filtering to handle large-scale deployments
Bio adhesive Trials Across Species: Test adhesion strength on various hides and fur types under real-world conditions
Ethical Testing of Remote Tagging System
2. Confirmed Pilot Deployment: Pangolin Rehabilitation Centre
We have already secured confirmed partners for our first field deployment:
Umoya Khulula Wildlife Centre – A rehabilitation centre focused on pangolins.
Francois Meyer – A leading pangolin conservationist
This confirmed pilot ensures real-world testing with rehabilitated pangolins before their release into the wild
Deploy RFID Tags on Pangolins: Attach custom RFID antennas to rehabilitated pangolins before release
Install Receiver Network: Set up a LoRa-based tracking system across the pilot area to collect real-time tracking data
Field Test Remote Tagging System: Test using non-sedation tagging system, refining distance, pressure, and accuracy
Compare Against GPS Collars: Benchmark accuracy, tracking effectiveness and ruggedness in a real-world environment to prove the system’s superiority
3. Scaling & Multi-Species Expansion
During this phase, we will expand tracking to additional species and begin backend software development for data integration and app functionality
Expand to New Species: Modify RFID antennas for lions, elephants, birds, and reptiles
Formalize Conservation Partnerships: Secure contracts with wildlife reserves, national parks, and NGOs
Deploy Additional Receiver Networks: Expand RF tracking grids to cover entire conservation areas
Develop Backend Data Processing & AI Models: Integrate location data, species behaviour, and movement analytics into a secure conservation database
4. Full-Scale Deployment & Documentary Filmmaking
Our initial focus is on Africa, where we will scale tracking across major wildlife reserves and protected areas
Deploy in High-Risk Poaching Areas: Fast-track rollouts in African conservation zones, particularly those with endangered species
Launch joint Private NGO Programs: Integrate with national wildlife monitoring and anti-poaching initiatives
Expand Commercial Applications: Explore additional uses in agriculture, ecosystem research, and habitat monitoring
Leverage Hollywood Filmmaking to Raise Awareness:
Terrasense founders Neil Impey and Jono O’Connell come from 50 years of collective heritage in the film industry
We will document the conservation efforts of species like pangolins, black rhinos, and white rhinos in a high-quality wildlife documentary series
We will collaborate with A-list Hollywood filmmakers to create compelling conservation storytelling that educates and raises global awareness
These films will showcase the innovative tracking technology while bringing the plight of endangered species to audiences worldwide
5. Development & Launch of the Interactive App & Data Security Platform
The final phase focuses on securing wildlife data. Here collaboration will be key. Now that we will have more data than ever before, it will become important for us to responsibly use this data in the most impactful and responsible way. Our mission of animals first, always will be our compass. The data needs to help conservation, however we also need to make sure we don’t get the data in the hands of poachers
Wildlife Data Security
Terrasense will implement a secure system to prevent poaching risks and unauthorized access to real-time tracking data:
Sensitive species locations (e.g., rhinos) will be stored in an encrypted vault and hidden from public access
Algorithms will control access, ensuring only select members of conservation teams have real-time data, while tourists only see time-delayed locations
Anti-poaching protocols will automatically restrict high-risk data from being misused
Tourist Engagement & Interactive Wildlife Tracking Imagine a family entering Kruger National Park with a tablet or mobile app that offers an interactive experience
Instead of real-time tracking, the app reveals where an animal (e.g., Simba the lion) was last seen yesterday or the day before
As visitors drive through the reserve, they receive location-based alerts, telling them they are near where Simba last hunted, drank water, or crossed a road
Clicking on Simba provides an interactive profile: his pride structure, recent movements, territorial changes, or conflicts with other males
This gamifies wildlife tracking, allowing visitors to engage without interfering with natural behaviours
Francois, has been involved in Pangolin conservation since 2018. He has played a key role in developing South Africa’s official release and monitoring guidelines for rehabilitated pangolins, now adopted by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and Environment
Emma has spent over 15 years in wildlife rehabilitation, working with more than 100 species of mammals, birds, and reptiles. She has successfully rehabilitated and released over 500 animals back into their natural habitats. Emma is a co-owner at Umoya Khulula. Working with Pangolins every day, her expertise will be extremely valuable in our pilot - ensuring the Pangolin's well being is always the first consideration
More about the Pangolin Project
Emma – The Guardian of the Forgotten
Emma De Jager never set out to be a pioneer. She was simply a young woman who loved animals—until she found herself deep in the heart of South Africa, standing between life and death for the world’s most trafficked mammal: the pangolin. Over the past 18 years, she has dedicated her life to wildlife rehabilitation, founding Umoya Khulula Wildlife Centre and rescuing animals that have suffered at the hands of poachers, fences, and habitat destruction.
Five years ago, she encountered her first pangolin. The enigmatic creatures captured her heart, and she vowed to become their protector. Since then, she has worked tirelessly to reintroduce nearly 100 pangolins back into the wild. But one, in particular, has changed everything.
The Mission – Tracking the Wild Without Harm
For decades, tracking wildlife meant invasive collars, tranquilizers, and risky interventions. Pangolins, in particular, have been shackled by outdated tracking methods—tags drilled into their delicate scales, requiring multiple sedations that could endanger their lives.
Emma has spent years trying to find a better way, and now, for the first time ever, she has one: Terrasense tags.
These revolutionary, battery-free tags will allow Archie to roam free while providing real-time, high-resolution tracking data—without harming him. Unlike traditional GPS collars, which offer only a glimpse of an animal’s daily movement, Terrasense’s ultra-lightweight, bio-adhesive tracking technology will reduce impact but increase insight into Archie’s life in the wild.
The First of His Kind
When Archie takes his first steps into freedom, he won’t just be another pangolin returning to the wild—he will be a pioneer. His movements will mark the beginning of a new era in conservation, proving that tracking doesn’t have to come at the expense of the very animals we are trying to save.
Emma will be watching, not as a mother sending her child into the unknown, but as a scientist, a conservationist, and a trailblazer of a future where technology works with nature, not against it.
Archie’s journey will shape the future of pangolin conservation, giving researchers and rangers the tools they need to protect these creatures without disrupting their natural behavior.
The Legacy Begins
Emma and Archie’s story isn’t just about one pangolin’s survival—it’s about rewriting the rules of conservation. If Archie thrives, his success will pave the way for an entire species. More pangolins, birds, and small mammals will benefit from this breakthrough in tracking, and the doors to a new age of ethical wildlife monitoring will open.
As Emma places the very first Terrasense tag on Archie, she knows she is standing on the edge of something far greater than a single release. She is witnessing the beginning of a revolution.
Archie is not just a pangolin. He is the first of his kind. The pioneer of a movement. The one who will prove that we can track the wild, without taking the wild away.
Get behind Archie
Enter your email at the bottom of the page to get updates on Archie and the other Pangolins. Which will include Live streamed chats with us and Emma. As Terrasense expands with new animals we'll continue with ore live streams. We hope these chats will bring awareness to different organisations and help raise funds. For now you can click the donate button to give directly to Umoya Khulua
