Technology has highly advanced in recent times. One particular consumer product that technology has brought to us in the recent years is the drone. Quadcopters have been popularly used in different areas, especially in combating terror and other security concerns.
However, drones have also been used in the management of wildlife. The number of endangered species is fast increasing, and some have suffered extinction. However, the continued rising of poaching has led to the introduction of drones in this sector.
Why Drones Are Valuable in Wildlife Protection
Drones bring different aspects of high technology to the table. A drone may include a voice recorder, a camera for taking images and also videos. Also, some drones are fitted with guns that can shoot the targets. However, the drones used in Wildlife may lack this latter feature, since our focus is on viewing what is correctly taking place.
Through the drones, wildlife conservationists can count the number of species in a particular place. For instance, counting of the number of elephants in a game reserve ensures proper checkup on the breeding and increasing of the number. It is possible to note the number of elephants killed through poaching using drones.
Apart from recording the number, drones can also help in assessing the behavior of animals with the aim of assisting them in efficiently interacting with their habitat. It helps the conservationists to find ways of improving the environment through the planting of trees. Understanding the forest cover characteristics of a region can create the need to replenish the atmosphere with natural habitat.
Why Poaching is still a menace yet drones are available
The question that still arises is, how come poaching is still a significant challenge. Well, the technology has mainly been used for observation and not taking drastic approaches towards the poachers. Poaching is still popular in African and Asian countries simply because of not considering this technology.
However, drones can be used to shoot the poachers if they come with military features. It happens when they are fitted with guns. Maybe this would be a lasting solution towards reducing the number of those who endanger the lives of animals and birds. Nevertheless, this seems to create ethical controversies since it establishes human-animal conflicts.
Poachers have rights of life, and so do animals.
Therefore, this decision would improve the efficiency of drones operating the attack of these culprits. Therefore, this technology in wildlife conservation is not automatically welcomed by every single stakeholder. Apart from that, poaching has been highly propagated by corrupt cartels. Thus, there is the need for inter-governments’ cooperation in eradicating this concern.
Parting Shot
Drones used for checking on wildlife should be advanced. They might use firearms that are only used in destroying the poaching cartels. Perhaps we would have saved dodo bird if drones were discovered early enough. Anyway, there is still an opportunity for stakeholders to agree on the value of drones in defending wildlife. Drones should be sophisticated to achieve these desirable results. When we come together to condemn poaching, we achieve good results. But we achieve higher success when we introduce technology in the environmental aspects.
