Well 290 koala they live hidden on the margins of Newcastle, remained for practically invisible years. Although occasionally sighted, nobody imagined that they could be so numerous!
To reveal it was one Scientific research, financed by WWF Australia and led by the University of Newcastlewhich used thermal drones equipped with sensors capable of monitoring the area even at night, finally revealing the real number of animals.
– This population has flown under the radar, showing that the Koala can survive and even thrive in the peri -urban areas. These marginal habitats need protection and monitoring as much as pristine reserves – said Dr. Ryan Witt.
The drones made it possible to explore areas that are difficult to reach on foot, offering a more precise vision than other technologies, distinguishing the Koalas from other species with a surprising accuracy.
The study, however, did not limit himself to the peri -urban area of Newcastle, but has surveyed beyond 4,300 koala on a large area of 67,300 hectaresin Seven national parks of the new South Wales, Australia. The protocol also provided for the real -time validation of the data, ensuring precision never reached before.
A crucial aspect of the study is accuracy in the estimate of the abundance of the Koalawhich allows you to overcome the traditional obstacles of imperfect detection. The approach combined with drones and advanced statistical modeling not only have improved the precision of estimates, but also provided a fundamental tool for the protection and monitoring of the species, which could be applied to other pounds and mammals.
This study shows how technological innovation can be used to preserve threatened species, improving the strategies of conservation and management of natural resources.
Sources: ScienceireCirect/University of Newcastle
