DJI Drones Are Changing Elephant Research

The latest study from Save The Elephants teaches us something really interesting: elephants never forget, and now we know they can get used to drones too. A new study from Save the Elephants and the University of Oxford shows that drones can be a powerful tool for monitoring wild elephants without stressing them.

Researchers followed 14 known elephant families in Kenya. They flew 35 drone trials in Samburu and Buffalo Springs. Some elephants raised their trunks or paused for a moment during the first minute. But reactions faded within minutes.

Nearly half of all flights caused no disturbance at all. Even better, responses dropped by about seventy percent during repeated exposures. Elephants basically decided that drones are not worth worrying about.

This is a big deal for conservation. Until now, elephants often ran from drones because the sound reminded them of bees. Farmers used drones to chase them away from crops. But when flown high and steady, drones become quiet observers.

Scientists can now watch how elephants move, interact and make decisions inside a herd. They can even record what happens at night with thermal cameras.

The drones used in this study were operated with special permits from Kenya’s aviation and wildlife authorities. Tourist drones are not allowed in national reserves. Everything was flown slowly, smoothly and above 120 meters to keep stress low.

What The Researchers Found

The study confirms that elephants can habituate to drones in both the short and long term. During the first minute of a flight the number of disturbed elephants went up. By the last minute they were back to normal levels. And during the next flight the same groups reacted far less.

Even after long gaps between tests the behavior stayed consistent. One family did not see a drone again for 355 days and still showed signs that it remembered drones were harmless. That is classic elephant intelligence.

Researchers also noticed small shifts in activity. Feeding dropped a bit. Walking increased during the first and last minute of exposure. Resting increased after the drone left. These changes were minor but important. It means drone studies must record baseline behavior first so scientists can tell what is normal and what is a reaction to the drone.

Drones also helped record new details that were almost impossible to observe from the ground. Thermal cameras revealed clues about how elephants sleep and move at night. AI tools are being trained to estimate age and sex directly from the footage. This can speed up research that would normally take months.

Not every group reacted the same. One herd that had recently traveled through an area with a long history of poaching was already alert before the drone arrived. Even they relaxed after a few minutes and showed lower reactions during their next exposure.

Building Better Tools To Protect Elephants

The team recommends flying at 120 meters or higher, launching at least 500 meters downwind and keeping the drone steady. Erratic flying or low flights can still trigger fleeing behavior. That is why farmers use drones to scare elephants from crops. But scientific flights follow strict rules to avoid stress.

Studies in other animals show similar patterns. Some mammals and birds habituate to drones. Others show subtle stress even when they look calm. Future work may include measuring physiology like heart rate or stress hormones. For now, the data suggests elephants are far more flexible and adaptable than expected.

The study was supported by the Colossal Foundation. Save the Elephants has more than thirty years of field research in Kenya. This mix of long term knowledge and new technology is giving conservationists a clearer window into the lives of one of the most intelligent species on Earth.

DroneXL’s Take

Drones are quickly becoming one of the most valuable research tools in wildlife science. This study shows that when drones are flown responsibly, elephants adapt fast and stay calm. High altitude flights, slow approaches and steady movement let scientists watch natural behavior without getting too close. The best part is that drones can capture things humans simply cannot see, especially at night. Expect more studies like this as drones become standard equipment for conservation teams around the world.

Photo credit: Jane Wynyard