In news of drones doing good, scientists at the Vancouver Aquarium and NOAA are using drones to track, take pictures and study killer whales off the coast of British Columbia.
The news comes via the Stranger. By photographing these animals from above, scientists are able to collect more information about their health: “Like their friends to the south, the southern resident killer whale, these guys pretty much only eat Chinook salmon,” the Stranger reports. “Unfortunately, Chinook salmon runs are dying off, and as the imagery clearly shows, some of these killer whales are not getting enough food.”
NOAA states that the project is the first time that scientists “have used an unmanned aerial vehicle to study killer whales from above.” They are using a remote-controlled hexacopter with a hi-res camera attached to its underside, flying about 100 feet above the whales — high enough to not bother them.
The NOAA/Vancouver Aquarium study is following the threatened northern resident killer whales. They are much like the also endangered southern resident killer whales that swim around Seattle. Researchers are especially concerned with if the killer whales are getting enough to eat.
Using drones instead of helicopters has two major advantages: The photographs are captured at a closer distance, and it costs much less money to fly a drone.
As whales are incredibly sensitive, the professional drone operators secured all the appropriate permits for the study and ensure that their flight paths do not disrupt the whales. It should go without saying, but here it is anyway: Please do not fly your drone around a killer whale.
See some of the incredible NOAA/Vancouver Aquarium pictures below:
