Animal Tracking
Early Days
Possum
Crown Copyright: Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai (1972), Photographer: Rod Morris.
Possum fitted with a transmitter
Fitting a transmitter to a moose Click to enlarge)
Sirtrack is a subsidiary of Landcare Research which was formed in 1992 when the government decided to abolish departments such as the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and create Crown Research Institutes. The CRI are government owned companies with a focus on servicing the technology and innovation needs of important sectors of the economy.
In the early days Landcare Research was involved in oil exploration, which is a high risk (in financial terms) sector. As part of a policy to separate Landcare Research from high risk it was decided to make a separate department involved in oil exploration. However, the oil exploration market dried up in 1993-94 and it was resolved that the new department (Sirtrack) would make money by building tracking transmitters.When Sirtrack starting work in this area their first job was making transmitters for possums, and the small mammal market remains quite a significant one. The company moved on from possums to foxes and bigger creatures such as kangaroos and camels.
Staff
Sirtrack generally has about twelve to fourteen staff, the majority of whom have a background in electronics. Staff range from those with no tertiary qualifications to a few with a degree, although most have a two year certificate in electronics from a polytechnic. Dave Ward is Manager of Sirtrack and is responsible for the day to day running of the company.The transmitters are constructed and assembled in the company's headquarters in Havelock North. 80% of the packaging (what protects the transmitter) is done here. Some of this work is done by sub-contractors and some by people working from home.
How Sirtrack is successful internationally
