Add elephant guardian to the list of jobs that can be occupied by drones. It turns out, that for around $800 a pop, the kinds of small, unmanned aerial vehicles used by hobbyists excel at spooking elephants – just enough, anyway, to make them move out of areas that could spell trouble for them. That's what a team from <a href="http://www.resolv.org/">RESOLVE's</a> <a href="http://www.resolv.org/site-BiodiversityWildlifeSolutions/">Biodiversity and Wildlife Solutions Program</a> observed during field trials of the copters above farmlands in Africa's Serengeti and Tarangire national parks in Tanzania. Farmlands are trouble spots for elephants, since the giant creatures can quickly eat through crops vital to a farmer's livelihood. The farmers, in turn, either throw things at the elephants or try to scare them away with dicey, unsafe devices such as condoms filled with firecrackers and chili powder. Worse yet, according to RESOLVE, the farmers might decide to look the other way while poachers take aim at the elephants. How, then, to steer the elephants away from the farmlands without harming the animals or the farmers? Cue the drones. The drone field trials, documented in a study <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/oryx/article/div-classtitleunmanned-aerial-vehicles-mitigate-humanelephant-conflict-on-the-borders-of-tanzanian-parks-a-case-studydiv/3BFA919F001CC117888833DE8448FEC4">published</a> in the Cambridge University Press journal Oryx, showed that in all cases where drones were flown overhead, elephants chose to leave the farmland where they were grazing. "The results are very positive and show that UAVs can be an effective, flexible way for wildlife managers to deal with human-elephant conflict," <a href="http://blog.journals.cambridge.org/2016/12/21/hobby-drones-repurposed-as-peacekeepers-save-elephants/">said</a> the study's lead author, Nathan Hahn, of Biodiversity and Wildlife Solutions, in a statement. <a href="http://www.seeker.com/night-flying-drones-fight-poachers-in-africa-1770996541.html">RELATED: Night-Flying Drones Fight Poachers in Africa</a> To date, the researchers say, more than 120 UAV flights have been made by trained wildlife managers whenever news comes of elephants grazing on private farmland. The copters fly more than 300 feet (90 meters) above the scene, still low enough to get the job done but high enough to bring a measure of safety to all concerned parties, from elephants to farmers to rangers. Thus far, the researchers say, the elephants have not become so accustomed to the drones that they ignore them and keep grazing. What's more, the drones are becoming a kind of diplomatic tool for achieving peaceful relations with farmers. "When we can help farmers move the elephants away, we can build relationships and get them on our side," said park ranger Kateto Ollekashe. "That's also how we can help stop poaching." WATCH VIDEO: Using Dozens Of Elephants To Save Rhinos

Add elephant guardian to the list of jobs that can be occupied by drones.

It turns out, that for around $800 a pop, the kinds of small, unmanned aerial vehicles used by hobbyists excel at spooking elephants – just enough, anyway, to make them move out of areas that could spell trouble for them.

That's what a team from <a href="http://www.resolv.org/">RESOLVE's</a><a href="http://www.resolv.org/site-BiodiversityWildlifeSolutions/">Biodiversity and Wildlife Solutions Program</a> observed during field trials of the copters above farmlands in Africa's Serengeti and Tarangire national parks in Tanzania. Farmlands are trouble spots for elephants, since the giant creatures can quickly eat through crops vital to a farmer's livelihood. The farmers, in turn, either throw things at the elephants or try to scare them away with dicey, unsafe devices such as condoms filled with firecrackers and chili powder. Worse yet, according to RESOLVE, the farmers might decide to look the other way while poachers take aim at the elephants.

How, then, to steer the elephants away from the farmlands without harming the animals or the farmers? Cue the drones.

The drone field trials, documented in a study <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/oryx/article/div-classtitleunmanned-aerial-vehicles-mitigate-humanelephant-conflict-on-the-borders-of-tanzanian-parks-a-case-studydiv/3BFA919F001CC117888833DE8448FEC4">published</a> in the Cambridge University Press journal Oryx, showed that in all cases where drones were flown overhead, elephants chose to leave the farmland where they were grazing.

"The results are very positive and show that UAVs can be an effective, flexible way for wildlife managers to deal with human-elephant conflict," <a href="http://blog.journals.cambridge.org/2016/12/21/hobby-drones-repurposed-as-peacekeepers-save-elephants/">said</a> the study's lead author, Nathan Hahn, of Biodiversity and Wildlife Solutions, in a statement.

<a href="http://www.seeker.com/night-flying-drones-fight-poachers-in-africa-1770996541.html">RELATED: Night-Flying Drones Fight Poachers in Africa</a>

To date, the researchers say, more than 120 UAV flights have been made by trained wildlife managers whenever news comes of elephants grazing on private farmland.

The copters fly more than 300 feet (90 meters) above the scene, still low enough to get the job done but high enough to bring a measure of safety to all concerned parties, from elephants to farmers to rangers.

Thus far, the researchers say, the elephants have not become so accustomed to the drones that they ignore them and keep grazing.

What's more, the drones are becoming a kind of diplomatic tool for achieving peaceful relations with farmers.

"When we can help farmers move the elephants away, we can build relationships and get them on our side," said park ranger Kateto Ollekashe. "That's also how we can help stop poaching."

WATCH VIDEO: Using Dozens Of Elephants To Save Rhinos

Add elephant guardian to the list of jobs that can be occupied by drones.It turns out, that for around $800 a pop, the kinds of small, unmanned aerial vehicles used by hobbyists excel at spooking elephants – just enough, anyway, to make them move out of areas that could spell trouble for them.That's what a team from <a href="http://www.resolv.org/">RESOLVE's</a><a href="http://www.resolv.org/site-BiodiversityWildlifeSolutions/">Biodiversity and Wildlife Solutions Program</a> observed during field trials of the copters above farmlands in Africa's Serengeti and Tarangire national parks in Tanzania. Farmlands are trouble spots for elephants, since the giant creatures can quickly eat through crops vital to a farmer's livelihood. The farmers, in turn, either throw things at the elephants or try to scare them away with dicey, unsafe devices such as condoms filled with firecrackers and chili powder. Worse yet, according to RESOLVE, the farmers might decide to look the other way while poachers take aim at the elephants.How, then, to steer the elephants away from the farmlands without harming the animals or the farmers? Cue the drones.The drone field trials, documented in a study <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/oryx/article/div-classtitleunmanned-aerial-vehicles-mitigate-humanelephant-conflict-on-the-borders-of-tanzanian-parks-a-case-studydiv/3BFA919F001CC117888833DE8448FEC4">published</a> in the Cambridge University Press journal Oryx, showed that in all cases where drones were flown overhead, elephants chose to leave the farmland where they were grazing."The results are very positive and show that UAVs can be an effective, flexible way for wildlife managers to deal with human-elephant conflict," <a href="http://blog.journals.cambridge.org/2016/12/21/hobby-drones-repurposed-as-peacekeepers-save-elephants/">said</a> the study's lead author, Nathan Hahn, of Biodiversity and Wildlife Solutions, in a statement.<a href="http://www.seeker.com/night-flying-drones-fight-poachers-in-africa-1770996541.html">RELATED: Night-Flying Drones Fight Poachers in Africa</a>To date, the researchers say, more than 120 UAV flights have been made by trained wildlife managers whenever news comes of elephants grazing on private farmland.The copters fly more than 300 feet (90 meters) above the scene, still low enough to get the job done but high enough to bring a measure of safety to all concerned parties, from elephants to farmers to rangers.Thus far, the researchers say, the elephants have not become so accustomed to the drones that they ignore them and keep grazing.What's more, the drones are becoming a kind of diplomatic tool for achieving peaceful relations with farmers."When we can help farmers move the elephants away, we can build relationships and get them on our side," said park ranger Kateto Ollekashe. "That's also how we can help stop poaching."WATCH VIDEO: Using Dozens Of Elephants To Save Rhinos

Rhino populations have been threatened in many parts of Asia and Africa for years. Because they're often poached for their horns, some rhino species have even become <a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/pages/rhino-facts-and-species">critically endangered.</a>Luckily, there are several conservation efforts taking place to help restore rhino populations where it's needed most. World Wildlife Fund has set-up a translocation program in Nepal to help restore greater one-horned rhino populations.<a href="http://www.seeker.com/should-we-bring-extinct-animals-back-to-life-2009585208.html">RELATED: Should We Bring Extinct Animals Back To Life?</a>Due to their rapid decline in population, rhinos often live in very isolated areas. <a href="https://www.savetherhino.org/our_work/what_we_do/translocations">Translocation</a> helps them move between different areas in order to find new mates to breed with, as well as access to more food and water if their current location has scarce resources.The process of translocating an animal as large as a rhino is a bit challenging to say the least. Nilanga Jayasinghe is a program officer for World Wildlife Fund, U.S. She explained to Seeker the resources required to move a 3 ton rhinoceros."Translocation at this magnitude is a tremendous effort. We have a total of about 35 elephants here and about 250 people," she said.<a href="http://www.seeker.com/largest-gorilla-species-at-risk-of-extinction-1999014504.html">RELATED: Largest Gorilla Species at Risk of Extinction</a>This process wouldn't be possible without these elephants. They help get the rhino to a secluded area where it can be hit with a dart to sedate it. "When a rhino is discovered, they will communicate," Jayasinghe said. "The elephants will move in a circular formation around the rhino to keep it from running way.""Once it's darted, everything moves very quickly," she added. "It's so rapid because you want to make sure there's minimal impact to the rhino. Ideally it should be done within half an hour. From the time the rhino is darted and it's taken to the truck and woken back up with the antidote."Just over ten years ago, Nepal's greater one-horned rhino population was in serious trouble at only 375 total in the country. Today, conservation efforts like the translocation through WWF have <a href="http://rhinos.org/species/greater-one-horned-rhino/">increased that population to 645.</a> <a href="http://www.seeker.com/500-pound-bird-was-eaten-to-extinction-by-humans-1770806485.html">RELATED: 500-Pound Bird Was Eaten to Extinction by Humans</a>In order to prevent illegal activity involving animals, like poaching, several years ago the Nepal government created the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau. However, Nepal's rhino population has been largely saved by local communities as well. In 2008, the government began <a href="http://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/how-nepal-got-to-zero-poaching">encouraging citizens to set-up their own anti-poaching units</a> and even handed over control of one third of the country's forest to them. Today, there are over 400 of these anti-poaching units around the country. Anil Manandhar, the Country Representative of WWF Nepal says their conservation success is largely due to community efforts, and in turn the quality of their life is improved. "In Nepal, you know, conservation is paying back to the people. Improving the quality of life of the people through ecotourism, wildlife tourism," he told Seeker.Since 2011, Nepal has had four straight years without a single instance of poaching and the translocation process has helped significantly replenish rhino populations in a fairly short time.Manandhar added, "Nepal has become an example where you can prove that conservation can be done."-- <a href="http://www.seeker.com/community/Molly_Fosco">Molly Fosco</a>

Using Dozens Of Elephants To Save Rhinos

Animals

Earth & Conservation

Drones Are Steering Elephants Out of Trouble in Tanzania

Add elephant guardian to the list of jobs that can be occupied by drones.

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Drones Are Steering Elephants Out of Trouble in Tanzania

Inexpensive unmanned aerial vehicles are proving to be an effective way to keep the giant animals from grazing on private farmland and putting themselves in danger.