San Clemente, Calif.—February 15, 2018—Elephant Cooperation, dedicated to saving elephants and helping children, congratulated UAV & Drone Solutions’ (UDS) Air Shepherd program for being named a finalist in the Social Innovation/Surveillance category by the 2018 Edison Awards. Elephant Cooperation has taken over management of Air Shepherd from the Lindbergh Foundation.
The Edison Awards, named after Thomas Alva Edison, recognizes and honors the world’s best innovators and innovations. The Edison Awards will announce gold, silver and bronze award winners at the 31st Annual Edison Awards held Wednesday, April 11, 2018, in New York City.
Chosen as one of Elephant Cooperation’s first portfolio projects, Air Shepherd has flown in multiple African countries, including South Africa, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Botswana. With more than 18,000 flight hours, Air Shepherd drone teams are pushing the boundaries of drone technology by flying 25km beyond the line of sight and at night—when poachers operate. Utilizing intelligence from multiple sources, infrared-capable drones fly silently. Once poachers are spotted by the drones, rangers are sent to intercept them. Air Shepherd drones offer more protection for rangers who, while patrolling at night, are exposed to a high level of danger from armed poachers and wild animals. Air Shepherd’s experience on the ground has shown that when they are flying drones, poaching stops.
“We are ecstatic that Air Shepherd received this well-deserved recognition,” said Scott Struthers, founder of Elephant Cooperation. “In addition to supporting Air Shepherd as one of our projects, Elephant Cooperation has taken over management of the program as we recognized its ground-breaking progress on the frontlines of poaching from the beginning.”
Established in 1987, and often described as the “Oscars of Innovation,” the Edison Awards recognizes and honors the world’s best innovations and innovators.
All nominations were reviewed by the Edison Awards Steering Committee and the final ballot sent to an independent judging panel. The panel was comprised of more than 3,000 professionals from the fields of product development, design, engineering, science, marketing, and education, including professional organizations representing a wide variety of industries and disciplines.
For more information on the 2018 Edison Awards, please visit www.edisonawards.com.
About UDS’ Air Shepherd Program
Founded and developed by the Charles A. and Anne Morrow Lindbergh Foundation, the Air Shepherd program, now being run by UDS with help from California-based Elephant Cooperation, is using drones to protect rhinos and elephants in Africa. Using sophisticated three-aircraft operating teams that work with rangers on the ground, drones are flown over high probable poaching areas, allowing rangers to intercept suspects before a poaching incident can take place. For more information and to donate, please visit www.AirShepherd.org.
About Elephant Cooperation
The brainchild of Scott Struthers, a successful California-based entrepreneur and son of a biologist, Elephant Cooperation is a non-profit devoted to raising awareness of the African elephant crisis. The organization empowers neighboring communities and supports existing conservation groups in order to tackle the issue on multiple fronts—protection, awareness, efficiency and community. The organization’s goal is to develop projects/cooperation across NGOs to use as best practices and common resources while focusing on donor relationships.
About The Edison Awards
The Edison Awards is a program conducted by Edison Universe, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to fostering future innovators. For more information about the Edison Awards, please visit www.edisonawards.com
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