Canadian professor Steven Cooke has stated in an interview with AFP that gps trackers that are attached to animals are being hacked by several other parties, such as poachers, photographers and travel providers that organize tours to see these animals.

The trackers placed on the animals to follow and protect them are now actually harming the animals, as the animals are easier to locate for other groups. Hacking of trackers has apparently already been done by poachers that hunt the Bengal tiger in India.

Cooke started thinking about GPS tracker hacking when he visited Banff National Park in Canada, where the use of signal receivers is prohibited because it could interfere the lives of animals that live in the park. Trackers are very useful for researchers to gain information about animal's lives, but since others also access the information it is important to take the right action to stop this. The life of some animals may change because they are now exposed to extra danger as their location and habits are known.

Scientists will discuss the issue in Australia in July.