Why are scientists using drones to catch whale breaths? It's all about understanding whale health and the potential impact on human health. But here's where it gets controversial...
Scientists in the Arctic are employing drones to study whale exhalations, which can reveal a lot about a whale's health. By flying drones over surfacing whales and capturing their exhales on petri dishes, researchers can collect biological samples without getting too close. This method is less stressful for the whales and allows scientists to study respiratory microbes, which can provide insights into the spread of deadly diseases within whale populations.
Dr. Mridula Srinivasan, a marine microbial ecologist, explains that traditional methods of collecting samples from wild whales involve getting close to them in a boat and using a dart gun to snag a small skin sample. However, with drones, scientists can now get a biological sample from a wild whale without causing stress to the animal. This is particularly important for studying whale health, as stress can impact their well-being.
The study, led by Helena Costa, focused on collecting blow samples from 2022 to 2025 in the Arctic waters around Norway and Iceland. The team detected cetacean morbillivirus and herpes virus in several groups of whales. These viruses can cause immunosuppression and severe disease in cetaceans, and have been linked to mass die-offs in these animals. Interestingly, the team did not detect avian influenza virus or the bacteria brucella, which can both infect humans.
The long-term data collected from these studies could reveal how stressors like pollutants and climate change impact the dynamics of these diseases. This information is crucial for understanding the health of whale populations and potentially mitigating the impact of diseases on both whales and humans. And this is the part most people miss...
While there are no protocols to treat a sick whale, managers can help by reducing stress during illness. For example, temporarily altering shipping lanes to avoid whales or limiting interactions between whales and humans if a whale is carrying a disease that can spread to humans.
So, the next time you see a whale, remember that scientists are using drones to catch their breaths and learn more about their health. It's a fascinating and controversial approach that could have significant implications for both whale conservation and human health.
