Aerial Drones and Conservation

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>.