Overview

Latest Sightings is a platform for visitors who are currently on a safari, be they rangers or tourists, to report the animals and events that they are seeing, in real-time. Users report their location, time and sighting to Latest Sightings, which in turn broadcasts these "tings" (a reported sighting) to other app-users and also over various media (Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, instagram etc…). These sightings allow users to maximize their safari experience as they get a heads-up on where sightings are taking place. Thousands of people, that aren’t in the park, enjoy the entertainment value of the photos or videos and use the sightings to plan their holiday. This project meets many needs: 1. Enhances the safari experience by enabling visitors to go directly to interesting sightings. 2. Contributes toward research projects, such as the Wild Dog Project, the Ground Hornbill project, the Leopard Identification project, Pangolin and Bat projects. I also contribute towards EWT special projects, like road kill awareness, etc. 3. Contributes towards wildlife conservation: When I receive a report of a snared animal or suspicious activity, I report it immediately to the authorities that I am in touch with. So far, Latest Sightings has saved rhinos (which we do not report seeing due to poaching), hyenas, wild dogs and lions who have been injured by poachers. 4. Educates my followers about the correct behaviour acceptable in the bush. Each morning, the first posts on all the media are about "bush etiquette" and how to report poaching and suspicious behaviour. 5. Communicates with wildlife enthusiasts who have become addicted followers of the sightings. Many South Africans living overseas report how they are living vicariously in Kruger by following the sightings, and many have been motivated to come visit Kruger! 6. Promotes tourism to South Africa!