Source: The Conversations
Marine mammals act as early warning indicators of ocean health, but monitoring their condition is challenging because they live underwater, range widely, and cannot be easily examined without disturbance. New research published in the Journal of Thermal Biology shows that drone-mounted thermal cameras offer a promising, non-invasive way to monitor dolphin health. The study tested thermal drones on 14 bottlenose dolphins under human care in Australia, measuring body surface temperature and breathing rates without restraint or tagging.
Researchers compared drone data with close-range reference measurements to assess accuracy. Results showed that flight height and camera angle were critical: drones flying about 10 meters directly above dolphins produced the most accurate readings, with temperatures closely matching reference data. Breathing rates were also reliably detected through heat changes at the blowhole. The findings suggest thermal drones could allow repeated, low-stress monitoring of dolphins and other marine mammals in the wild, improving conservation efforts as ocean ecosystems face increasing pressure.