Species: Flatback sea turtle (Natator depressus)
Location: Australia
Status: Endemic native species
Flatback sea turtles breed in northern Australia and have a restricted distribution compared to other sea turtles. They are vulnerable to a number of human-induced threats, including
habitat loss, predation of adults and eggs, fisheries by-catch, pollution, and climate change.
The researcher needed to track sea turtle hatchlings on their journey out to sea to determine if their migration was affected by artificial light or the presence of nearby wharves and ships.
The Multi-Track Drone Ranger’s fully-automated search capability allowed safe and repeatable search flights using the drone’s auto-pilot, with no manual flying needed. This permitted search flights to be conducted around shipping, port infrastructure, and other commercial activities nearby.
