A new satellite system could revolutionize wildlife tracking
Scientists are on the brink of launching a satellite-based system to monitor animal migrations, endangered species, and global changes through thousands of tiny tracking devices.
Hillary Rosner reports for Yale Environment 360.
In short:
- The ICARUS project, conceived by ornithologist Martin Wikelski, aims to create an "internet of animals" by attaching solar-powered tracking devices to wildlife and monitoring them via satellites.
- The system will launch in 2025, using low-cost CubeSats, providing data on animal movements and environmental conditions, crucial for understanding global change.
- The initiative promises to democratize ecological research, enabling more scientists to study animal behaviors and migrations with detailed, accessible data.
Key quote:
“These tags are so smart, they can tell us if a female is nesting and if the clutch disappears. Then we can link individuals to populations and understand the drivers of change.”
— Martin Wikelski, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior
Why this matters:
This groundbreaking technology offers a transformative approach to preserving the intricate web of life that sustains our planet. This tech-savvy approach could be our best bet in safeguarding biodiversity and, by extension, our own future. Read more: Winged Warnings: Built for survival, birds in trouble from pole to pole.
