Wildlife conservationists rely heavily on data in their efforts to protect animals, but gathering that data without disturbing the wildlife it’s intended to protect can prove to be a difficult task. In an effort to revitalize the endangered vulture population through captivated breeding, scientists had trouble keeping sensors in the giant bird’s nest to better understand how vultures incubate. So they created a 3-D printed egg filled with sensors that felt and weighed exactly the same as vulture eggs. The vultures tended to the eggs as if it were their own, and conservationists get the precious data they needed from underneath the parent. Similarly, scientists are using drones and improving the technology to track the migration patterns of cranes without disturbing the birds. Researchers are even using autonomous robots that roam the Pacific Ocean to collect data like temperature and salinity, all part of a technological shift that’s improving the relationship between conservationists and animals.
From 3-D printed eggs to drones: How technology is shaping the future of wildlife conservation
More of Today's Solutions
How citizen scientists are driving tangible change in Australia
Citizen science has evolved as a formidable force in conservation, propelled by regular people's passion and dedication to conserving our planet's irreplaceable ecosystems. Citizen ...
Read MoreMeet Dr. Wade: writer of thousands of Wikipedia pages for women scientists
Though the world has made some strides in gender equality, there is certainly still room for improvement, especially in the field of science, technology, ...
Read MoreArt preserves endangered flora in Himalayas—where conservation and culture co...
"In 2002, I was returning to Kalimpong in the eastern Himalaya region of India, and I found numerous trees had been cut down for ...
Read MorePrescribed thinning and controlled burns critical in preventing California wi...
A pioneering two-decade-long study done in California's Sierra Nevada mountains confirms the effectiveness of forest management strategies such as restorative thinning and regulated burning ...
Read More
