In Russia, Drones Are Helping Scientists Track Whales in Real Time
Russian scientists have begun using drones to tag whales in the Sea of Okhotsk, allowing real-time tracking of their movements. The breakthrough shows how drones are rapidly expanding beyond agriculture and education into ecological research.
For the first time, the environmental foundation 'Nature and People' has used unmanned aerial vehicles to attach tags to whales, according to the organization's director general, Sergey Rybakov, who spoke to RIA Novosti.
When a whale surfaces, a pneumatic device—produced in Russia—fires the tag, which then transmits signals via satellite. This gives scientists an almost real-time map of whale movements.
Rybakov recalled that back in July, researchers from the Institute of Ecology and Evolution at the Russian Academy of Sciences and representatives of 'Nature and People' carried out a joint expedition. During that mission in the Sea of Okhotsk, they successfully tagged five bowhead whales.
The project highlights a broader trend: drones are increasingly used across Russia, from classrooms to farms, and their potential applications are far from exhausted.
Particular attention is being paid to expanding drone production. By 2030, Russia plans to establish 48 research and production centers with a total budget of 65 billion rubles (about 764 million USD).
