When it
comes to wildlife conservation, much of it involves scientists searching
through exotic forests and jungles collecting population data, setting camera
traps, and surveying the ecosystem. As important as all this is, it takes up a
lot of time and money. So the newest option for conservationists is to use
aerial drones to assist them in surveying specific areas for wildlife and for
human encroachment in the habitat.
By putting
‘an eye in the sky’ it’s easier to view large herds of elephants in Africa or
the effects of deforestation on a habitat. A team of scientists working in
Indonesia created “inexpensive unmanned aerial vehicles (aka drone airplanes), to
study critically endangered Sumatran orangutans (Pongo abelii) from above the treetops” (Platt). This technology is
already being used in other conservation projects around the globe.
Serge
Wich, a professor at the Research Center in Evolutionary Anthropology and
Paleoecology at Liverpool John Moores University, says “autonomous drones can
help scientists and conservationists to inexpensively collect timely,
high-resolution data” (Platt). Wich and his partner, Lian Pin Koh, assistant
professor of applied ecology and conservation at ETH Zurich, “have developed a
lightweight drone system that costs about $2,000—including the batteries,
software, cameras and flight stabilizers” (Platt). Other available drones are
much more expensive and can cost up to $5,000, but Wich and Koh set up a
website, ConservationDrones.org, to help others recreate the same technology
around the world.
Wich and
Koh first used their drones in Sumatra “to capture video and photographs of
orangutans and elephants. The drones also came back with striking images of
Sumatra’s deforestation, caused by logging and palm oil plantations” (Platt). They
also captured “photographs of orangutan nests high in the trees, information
that will help inform future conservation activities” (Platt).
In an
interview for the Scientific American blog, when asked what he was trying to
solve with these drones, Wich replied that “one of the main problems we have is
that we’re almost always behind the facts on the ground.” He goes on to
describe how the conservation areas are just so huge and difficult to monitor
regularly so the need for drones is high. The drones are available whenever
they want to send them out, whereas conducting ground surveys takes time for
planning and execution and the cost is considerably higher.
The
beauty of the drones is that conservation researchers can choose to fly them as
often as they like; for example, drones can fly over the forest every month or
every week to see what’s going on. Then if there are any illegal activities or
encroachment going on they can inform the local authorities. Wich hopes drones
will enable conservationists “to react much faster to changes on the ground”
than before (Platt).
 |
| Photo of deforestation |
Eventually,
as the drone technology advances, Wich wants to receive “live feedback from the
video” instead of how it is now where he does not get access to video or photos
until the drone returns from its flight (Platt). The drones currently operate with
an autopilot route, much like Google Maps, that the researcher can plot
himself. The next step after live video footage would be thermal imaging
attached to the drone software.
Another
example of aerial drones used in conservation is the research Panthera is
currently conducting for the Jaguar Corridor Initiative. According to Panthera’s
September newsletter, “one of the greatest resources shaping [Panthera’s]
groundwork is aerial surveys carried out within Panthera’s Jaguar Corridor
Initiative—a program working to connect and protect jaguar populations from
Mexico to Argentina to ensure the species’ genetic diversity and future
survival” (Panthera).
The
drones offer “a unique perspective of the jaguar’s range, and a level of detail
unmatched by satellite imagery, aerial surveys allow Panthera’s scientists to
truly view connectivity of the Jaguar Corridor, identify encroachments on the
jaguar’s range and pinpoint habitat in which to focus Panthera’s future
conservation efforts.” The main threats targeted by these aerial drones are “habitat
loss and fragmentation caused by increasing human populations and developments.”
They also supply Panthera scientists with images to “visually demonstrate” to political
leaders how the Corridor actually connects the jaguars throughout their range
(Panthera).
In
addition to population data, habitat status, and the health of the ecosystem,
researchers hope drones will enable faster response times for antipoaching
patrols. Panthera believes “local communities and local violators are
recognizing the potential of aerial surveys to uncover otherwise unidentifiable
illegal activities, and allow improved enforcements of forest protection laws.”
Drones will definitely have a massive impact on the effectiveness of wildlife
conservation around the world.
References:
Platt, John R. "Eye in the Sky: Drones Help
Conserve Sumatran Orangutans and Other Wildlife, Extinction Countdown, Scientific American Blog
Network." Scientific American Blogs., 27 Sept. 2012.
Web. 28 Sept. 2012.
<http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/2012/09/27/drones-help-conserve-sumatran-orangutans-wildlife/>.
"September 2012 Newsletter." Panthera. Web. 28 Sept. 2012.
<http://www.panthera.org/september-2012-newsletter>.
