Drones for Science: Walrus Carcass Survey
Detailed Description
This is B-roll video collected during the fall of 2024 on the Alaskan shores of the Chukchi Sea.
USGS uses small uncrewed aerial systems, also known as drones for science, to survey walrus herds and carcasses on remote Alaskan beaches. If these large herds are disturbed by any number of factors, such as bears or low flying aircraft, the herd may rush in a panic to the safety of the sea. In that rush to safety walruses are often trampled, resulting in injury or death of dozens or even hundreds of predominantly young walruses.
To understand these trampling events and account for the loss of these walruses within the Stock Assessment process required by the Marine Mammal Protection Act, USGS is pioneering survey methods with small drones and satellite imagery.
In this video, the USGS remote pilot, Anthony Fischbach, is seen moving down the beach towards the surf as the drone is in the air. As the drone is about to land, the pilot moves forward towards the surf to have a better view of the landing site and to ensure that the survey drone could land safely on a flat part of the pebble and sandy beach and above the breaking surf.
Details
Sources/Usage
Public Domain.