A partnership between the Southern African Wildlife College and CAKE Electric Motorcycles to leverage electric motorbikes and solar power in the effort to combat poaching in Africa.

CAKE, the Swedish leader in premium electric off-road motorbikes, announced today a collaboration with the Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC) in South Africa to form the Electric Bush Bike Anti-Poaching Act. This collaboration lays the groundwork for testing and utilizing specially developed CAKE motorcycles in the Southern African Wildlife College’s efforts to protect endangered species from poaching. Additional support comes from the portable solar power solution leader, Goal Zero, which enables the necessary solar-power charging solution in the bush.

Poaching has devastating consequences for all wildlife all over Africa. In some instances, it is the primary reason why many species face the risk of extinction. Contrary to general perception, one of the strongest reasons for poaching is due to poverty and the need for food among local inhabitants. Areas with widespread poaching are often large, remote, and lacking roads, making patrolling by car virtually impossible. Recently, anti-poaching teams have started using dirt bikes for patrolling. However, these bush bikes run on gasoline, and, depending on the location, the fuel used to power these bikes must be brought in by truck or via helicopter. Although the motorcycle approach has proven highly successful, the roaring combustion engines unfortunately alert poachers miles away, decreasing the chances of catching them. By utilizing CAKEs electric off-road motorcycles, the goal is to increase efficiency in catching poachers by quietly being able to approach them.

To further increase the overall obligation toward sustainability and environmental responsibility, the specially tuned bush bikes will be charged by solar power. With every motorcycle, a solar panel and power station kit from Goal Zero will enable these bikes to operate in the African bush independent from the electric power grid on an ongoing, self-sufficient mission to protect wildlife.

“It is somewhat unreal how the sun and solar power, together with the technology of these silent off-road motorbikes can serve as something of a perpetual machine that works toward the general obligation of sustainability and, in this specific instance, to serve the purpose of saving species from extinction,” remarked CAKE’s founder and CEO, Stefan Ytterborn.

The Southern African Wildlife College is situated just 10 km west of the Kruger National Park in South Africa. It is the perfect campus setting to provide working examples for students to learn conservation theory and best practices in and out of the classroom. As part of its ‘learning by doing’ curriculum, the SAWC establishes a cycle of innovation and development. The curriculum and various training programs are continuously evolving, allowing the SAWC to address current conservation training needs while shaping the future conservation landscape.

As a center of specialization in conservation education, training, and skills development, the SAWC’s approach is rooted in science, partnerships, and applied learning. The SAWC’s Applied Learning Unit supports the SAWC’s efforts by facilitating monitoring, evaluation, research, and application in all departments, enabling the SAWC to maintain focus on real issues faced by students and practitioners in their work. For these reasons, the SAWC keeps up to date with relevant new techniques and has, for example, recently pioneered and seen great success with the use of free-running pack hounds in the battle against rhinoceros poaching in the Greater Kruger National Park.

"This partnership to test new technologies for innovative conservation solutions is extremely exciting. We are very proud to be partnering with CAKE and Goal Zero to test these electric off-road bikes given the impact that this could have on countering poaching across Africa," said the SAWC's CEO, Theresa Sowry.

The specifically developed African Bush Bikes will be announced and presented by the end of January 2021.

More info on SAWC: wildlifecollege.org.za

More info on CAKE: ridecake.com

More info on Goal Zero: goalzero.com

About CAKE

CAKE is a Swedish company with a clear mission to inspire towards a zero-emission society, by combining excitement and responsibility in its development of light, quiet, and clean high performance electric off-road motorcycles. Its first model, the Kalk, debuted at Denver’s OR and Munich’s ISPO shows in January 2018 and has received numerous accolades, including the 2019 and 2020 Red Dot Design Award, IF Design Award, Automotive Brand Contest Award, and “Best in Show” designation by several outdoor industry publications. In 2019, CAKE launched the Kalk&, a street-legal motorcycle as well as Ösa+ and Ösa Lite, a utility platform with an integrated power station and off-road capabilities, which extended their award-winning streak. Kalk INK debuted in March 2020, with the street-legal Kalk INK SL entering the line in April 2020. And CAKE expanded into the race scene in November 2020, launching the Kalk OR Race and Kalk INK Race.

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Learn more about CAKE at ridecake.com

About SAWC

Founded in 1996 the Southern African Wildlife College has been empowering people working in conservation to manage and conserve some of the world’s most biologically diverse areas. It has trained over 18,000 people within the conservation and environmental sectors. This includes natural resource managers, wildlife law enforcement officers and monitors, field rangers, field guides, youth wanting to bridge into the conservation and environmental education sector, youth involved in environmental services and members of local communities, amongst others. In addressing some of the current conservation challenges via its training mandate, the College has internalized a learning-by-doing inclusive and holistic approach for improved conservation practice and impact.

For more information, visit wildlifecollege.org.za