Hi all,
Elephant listening project and WWF CAR are working on elephant identification in Dzanga Baï (clearance in the forest) since several years now. We would like to compare our genealogy trees based on individual identification with DNA sampling, and understand forest elephant social and mating system.
The problem is that we would need DNA sampling of the specific individual observed in the baï after a defecation. But there is something 150+ elephant at the same time, and we can't disturb them. The terrain of the Baï is wet with water flows, mud, holes, grass, so something flying seems to be more adapted. But elephant are scared of conventional drones (such as DJI) so it will need to be smaller and silent or maybe display a bird call find in the baï (duck?).
So any ideas how we could sample in the context? Anyone use a drone that could also work here, or know an engineer team that would be interested?
Thanks
29 January 2024 4:58pm
I love this idea.
Even the lighter-than-air type drones that I know of have propellers and make a whirring noise when in controlled flight.
I wonder if time might be the key ingredient? Perhaps you could map the individual samples that want to be collected from a distance, then wait for the elephants to move away before going into collect specimens?
How fresh is fresh enough?
30 January 2024 8:19pm
Hi Antoine,
I would recommend talking to the engineers at Outreach Robotics - @Gcharron .
We have been working on collecting tools for rare plants, and I would guess it wouldn't be a huge adjustment to collect elephant dung. I think the amount of dung required for analysis will drive the size of the collecting drone. Maybe the drone could be up very high to not disturb the elephants with a long line sampling mechanism?
18 March 2025 4:00pm
Hi Antoine,
Maybe I am a bit late but stumbled across your post. We have built a system to collect DNA samples from the rainforest with a drone hovering above the canopy, and we lower a probe more than 40 meters down into the canopy. Something similar could be done for your case, and as the drone hovers above, the noise is somewhat reduced. Feel free to reach out if you want to further discuss this!
28 March 2025 9:14am
Hi @skirchgeorg , thanks for the additional info. We discuss again about this with my colleague and we were still hesitating with the drone, as it will still make some noise that will deter elephant away unless we can cover it with a natural sound. And it term of control drone are not the easiest, and some bird will also attack it (already have experience that in similar context). So after discussion we were more thinking about a rover camouflaged in elephant dung or something else, that will be able to bring back a piece of elephant dung for DNA analysis. This rover will only be able to access the dry part of the baï, but it would be easier to control and we could also attach a small rope in case of problems to bring it back to the platform. If you have any ideas to develop this rover, please contact me!
Bill Gray