First guidelines and suggested best protocol for surveying African elephants (Loxodonta africana) using a drone

Welsey L Hartmann,Alison Leslie,Vicki Fishlock

doi:10.4102/koedoe.v63i1.1687

Abstract

Unmanned aerial vehicles, commonly known as drones, are increasingly used in ecological management, conservation and research. Numerous reviews on drones tout almost unlimited potential within the wildlife sciences as they open up inaccessible habitats to observation. However, the influence of drones on the animals themselves is far less understood, and impact studies to construct protocols for best practices are urgently needed to minimise the potential for stress on target species. The impact of a quadcopter drone’s approach speed, angle of approach and initial starting altitude was tested on the behavioural responses of African elephants ( Loxodonta africana ), along with sustained speed and flight pattern. Seventy-nine approach flights and 70 presence flights were conducted. The speed and angle of approach significantly impacted the success of a flight, but neither speed nor flight pattern had any measurable impact on elephants’ behaviour during sustained flights. It is recommended that drones be launched at a distance of 100 m from an elephant or a herd of elephants, ascending to a height of 50 m by using an approach speed of 2m/s and an approach angle of 45 ° or less to successfully contact elephant targets. Conservation implications: This study aimed to provide a significant step towards the ethical use of drones in wildlife research. Further research is required to investigate the impacts of drones on other taxa. Physiological responses to drones, for example, would determine if physiological stress responses unlinked to behavioural indicators are of concern in elephants.

Highlights

Wildlife science usually focusses on the study, monitoring and management of animals and their habitats (Chabot & Bird 2015)
The popularity of drones amongst wildlife biologists, ecologists and conservationists is clear from the many review articles investigating the applications and proliferation of drone use in remote sensing, natural resource sciences and ecology (Allan et al 2015; Anderson & Gaston 2013; Christie et al 2016; Colomina & Molina 2014; Jones, Pearlstine & Percival 2006; Koh & Wich 2012; Pajares 2015; Shahbazi, Theau & Menard 2014; Watts, Ambrosia & Hinkley 2012; Whitehead & Hugenholtz 2014; Whitehead et al 2014)
Starting altitude had no significant effect on the success of an approach (GLZ [AICc = 64.98, BIC = 83.70, Nagelkerke R2 = 0.75], Estimate = 0.0055, p = 0.718), nor did environmental factors

Summary

Introduction

Wildlife science usually focusses on the study, monitoring and management of animals and their habitats (Chabot & Bird 2015). These goals may be relatively simple, achieving them can be extremely challenging, as resources are often limited and target species can be elusive, wide-ranging, sensitive to anthropogenic disturbances and/or dangerous to approach (Chabot & Bird 2015). Chabot and Bird (2015) conducted an extensive review of drone use in wildlife management in which they highlighted optical surveying and observation of animals, uses of drones in autonomous wildlife telemetry tracking, habitat research and monitoring and a review of the broader potential for UAVs. the capabilities and http://www.koedoe.co.za

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