March 29, 2024

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New Zealand: Drone to save My Dolphins |  Science

New Zealand: Drone to save My Dolphins | Science

The Maui dolphin derives its name from the Maori word for the North Island New Zealand, Where they come from. According to recent estimates, there are only 63 adult specimens of this subspecies of Cedaceans, which is considered The most unique in the world For a number of reasons: It is the smallest of all dolphins (measuring about 1.7 meters), with distinctive black, white and gray markings, and the rounded spine paddle differs from the most common triangular paddles.

With the adoption of commercial and recreational fishing gillnets in coastal areas, the number of dolphins began to decline significantly. According to Livia Esterhazy, New Zealand Director of the World Natural Fund (WWF), Human activity is the main reason why less than 5% of these mammals’ original population: “Human threats are our greatest concern. As dolphins become entangled in nets and become pirates, other activities that disturb them in their habitat include oil exploration and mining in the ocean. And there are diseases that affect them, like climate change, and we still do not know how differences in the ocean affect dolphins.

Those in charge of the project, they are going to use with the drone.Maui drone project.

Over the past decades, wildlife conservation organizations such as the WWF have engaged in post-war warfare with the government and the fishing industry to determine how to protect dolphins. But the blockade appears to have been lifted by a recent attempt by New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinta Artern to save them from destruction. “Everyone should be involved in supporting this project,” Artern said at a news conference, where he presented a sophisticated drone capable of detecting dolphins and flying at altitudes of up to 100 meters for up to six hours (natural behavior without interfering with them.) Non-profit organization Maui63 Having developed this program over the past 18 months, the drone has been programmed with artificial intelligence, making it possible to distinguish Molly models from other dolphins. Dan van der Boone, the project’s technology head, explains how the drone can provide the most and most reliable information about dolphins ever obtained. Until now, cetaceans have only been studied through three weekly science trips that occur every five years. “We like to fly continuously in all seasons, summer and winter, except once every five years, because it is very difficult to make rigorous prediction models with very little information. Let’s start building forecast models.

According to the Maori, these beautiful and intelligent animals are spirits of water, and their folk tales are full of legends with dolphins.

The Marine Protection Area established by the New Zealand government in 2008 to prevent fishing in dolphin habitats is based on limited information, for example, that does not include where cetaceans go in winter. The drone will provide real-time data on its movements, which is why the country’s leading fishing companies, Sanford and Mona, publicly support the project. Rochelle Constantine is Maui63’s leading researcher with 25 years of experience studying dolphins and whales. She is very happy that the fishing industry has promised not to fish in areas identified as drone dolphin areas. “We have been discussing the severity of the problem for many years and what is the best solution depending on the magnitude of the problem; we need a social process where everyone involved is involved in the common good. Will receive.

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The people of New Zealand have a very special relationship with dolphins. During the summer, recreational boats ply the seas every day with travelers who want to see these mammals in the wild. Dolphins play with boats and use dolphins to jump around them. According to Mori, these beautiful and intelligent animals are water spirits, and Its folk tales are full of legends with dolphins Helps travelers to cross dangerous water. This is why the New Zealand government has no hesitation in investing 350,000 New Zealand dollars (210,000 euros) in drones to prevent the May models from disappearing forever. On the last voyage to follow the dolphins, five cubs were discovered, which is a very encouraging fact because it is a subspecies with a very slow reproduction rate (females have one calf every 2-4 years). The scientific community hopes that the new security measures adopted by the drone will continue to grow the population of Muse and finally free it from the greatest human threats.

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