Drones Reveal Dramatic Decline in Humpback Whale Population Through Revolutionary Aerial Study

Технологія безпілотників is revolutionizing marine mammal research, with a groundbreaking five-year study using unmanned aerial vehicles to track dramatic changes in humpback whale populations across Hawaiian and Alaskan waters. The comprehensive research, published in The Journal of Physiology, demonstrates how drone-based photogrammetry is transforming our understanding of these marine giants.

The research team deployed specialized drones to capture over 2,400 measurements from more than 1,600 individual whales between 2018 and 2022, creating an unprecedented dataset that would have been impossible using traditional boat-based observation methods. This innovative approach to marine research showcases how drone technology is enabling scientists to gather precise measurements and track individual whales across vast distances.

“The ability to track and measure the same whales over 3,000 miles and roughly 200 days is truly remarkable,” notes Martin van Aswegen, lead author of the study.

The drone-based methodology allowed researchers to document concerning trends in whale body condition and reproduction rates with unprecedented precision.

The aerial surveillance revealed that nursing mothers lose approximately 214 pounds of blubber daily while in Hawaiian breeding grounds, representing a 17% decrease in body volume over six months. This level of detailed measurement would be virtually impossible without the persistent aerial perspective provided by drones.

Perhaps most concerning were the findings regarding population decline. The drone study documented an 80% reduction in birthrates off Hawaii between 2015 and 2016, while Аляска witnessed what researchers termed a “total reproductive failure” in 2018. These findings coincided with an extended marine heatwave that disrupted North Pacific food webs.

The research team has compiled what may be the world’s most comprehensive drone-based whale monitoring database, with 11,000 measurements from 8,500 individual whales. This extensive dataset demonstrates how drone inspection capabilities are transforming environmental research and Дика природа conservation efforts.

The success of this long-term study highlights the growing importance of drones for good applications in marine science. By enabling persistent, non-invasive monitoring of marine mammals, drone technology is providing researchers with crucial data needed to understand and address environmental challenges facing whale populations.

The researchers are now expanding their drone-based monitoring program to better predict how large baleen whales might respond to various threats, including climate change, vessel collisions, and entanglement in fishing gear, reports The Seattle Times. This ongoing work demonstrates how drone technology continues to evolve as an essential tool for environmental research and conservation efforts.

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.