How Wildlife Monitoring Supports South African Polar Research

CLS Southern Africa has reached a major milestone. After being awarded a tender by the South African Polar Research Infrastructure (SAPRI), our team will deliver state-of-the-art Iridium and Argos satellite connectivity to support scientific research in some of the most remote regions on the planet.

This announcement marks a turning point for wildlife monitoring and for our understanding of polar ecosystems.

A strategic contract to strengthen polar research

Over the next five years, CLS will deliver near real-time connectivity to support critical missions.

The goal is to provide scientists with a reliable link to their instruments, even when they are deployed in the heart of the Southern Ocean or on polar ice.

In practical terms, this means:

• Continuous communication with oceanographic equipment.
• Rapid transmission of environmental data.
• Precise tracking of marine and terrestrial animals through Argos satellite technology.

This level of reliability is essential. In polar regions, extreme conditions make direct access almost impossible. That is why only a robust system can guarantee the collection of the data needed to understand these fragile ecosystems.

Wildlife Monitoring as a key lever to protect polar ecosystems

Wildlife monitoring plays a central role in this collaboration with SAPRI. Through the Argos system, researchers track the movements of sentinel species across long distances, in areas where direct observation remains extremely limited. This data makes it possible to link animal movements to their environment. Ocean currents, water temperature, and changes in sea ice become measurable factors.

In this way, scientists can more accurately identify the climatic pressures affecting populations. Above all, they gain a clearer understanding of how these species respond to polar ecosystems in constant transformation.

Wildlife monitoring therefore becomes not only a scientific tool, but also an early warning system.

Satellite solutions in support of science and conservation

By providing reliable connectivity, CLS Southern Africa delivers a direct response to several key challenges:

• Reducing blind spots in data collection.
• Securing continuous data transmission.
• Enabling real-time analysis.
• Giving researchers the tools they need to make informed decisions.

This collaboration also strengthens SAPRI’s capabilities. It accelerates South African polar research and contributes to a global effort to better understand the planet’s most vulnerable regions.

A shared mission to move polar science forward

This partnership is, above all, a story of trust. SAPRI has entrusted us with a critical mission. In return, we bring proven technology, designed to operate in the most hostile environments.

Together, we are advancing research. Together, we are helping to better protect polar ecosystems. And together, we are opening a new chapter for wildlife monitoring in South Africa.

A sincere thank you to SAPRI for this collaboration. Here’s to five years of science, innovation, and conservation.