In recent news, it was reported that a South African farmer decided to equip his herd of sheep with cellular phones in order to keep track of the flock amid recent livestock thefts. A sheep calling its farmer for help sounds a bit far-fetched, but according to farmer and sheep owner Erard Louw of the Cape Town suburbs, the electronic devices hang around the sheep’s necks and are only set to switch on when the herd starts running; a clear sign that thieves have broken through the fences.

Louw had attached the phone-like security device to the collars of four sheep in response to thieves having snuck in, stealing 27 sheep and 13 lambs. He needed to devise a plan to protect his animals.

He mentioned that there was no use in calling nearby police, since they were stationed too far away and either lacked an available car, fuel, or had missing tires also ironically due to the thieves.

“As they run, it gives me a phone call and says ‘sheep one’ or ‘sheep two’ and so on, so at least I know where to start looking because the farm is 750 hectares (1,850 acres), said Louw. Based on Louw’s experience with the phones, they have already proven to be effective since one sheep-snatcher was caught thanks to the device. However, due to the rash of thefts, and the long winters, Louw did report a few snatchers who were still able to get away.

“The phone started ringing that night and I went out,” he said, “but by the time I got there it had been too late.”

There is, unfortunately, nothing the farmer could do about the stolen animals, though I think the phones are a clever start for a solution.

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