Behavior Analysis of Rhinoceroses and their Monitoring using a 3D Geovisualization Prototype

Abstract. Black and white rhinoceroses are emblematic large mammals of the African wilderness, yet poaching and habitat disturbance are critically endangering their survival. To ensure the conservation of the species, the population needs to be closely monitored. This paper presents a prototype of an integrated system designed to support rhino monitoring by providing a complete data pipeline, from data collection and visualization, to behavioral analysis. As part of a conservation program, more than 200 rhinos across seven nature reserves in South Africa and Mozambique have been fitted with GPS horn pods. The transmitted data is then displayed in real-time on Rhinos3D, a web-based 3D visualization which allows the rhinos to be visualized in their 3D environment alongside their pre-calculated home ranges. The scientific value of this infrastructure is demonstrated by an exploratory analysis of a small data sample which highlights differences in activity patterns and home range size across species, sex, season, and time of day. The long-term aim of the Rhinos3D platform is to function as a digital twin of a game reserve by integrating additional variables (e.g., vegetation, weather), enriching individual rhino profiles with movement and activity metrics, and developing automated anomaly detection to identify deviations from normal behavior, thus becoming a key asset for field rangers and researchers in rhino conservation.