Using drone technology helps plan for supplementary food and water supplies for native animals impacted by habitat loss

Bushfire Recovery Ecology Field Assessment

In 2019-2020, bushfires heavily impacted several states and territories across Australia. A wildlife sanctuary on the South Coast of New South Wales (NSW) was greatly affected by fires. Our team—an ecologist and two remote pilots—supported the sanctuary by completing a preliminary ecology field assessment.

Using a drone and 19mm thermal camera, we helped identify preferred locations for supplementary food and water drops for native animals who escaped the fire but needed support while the habitat recovered. We coordinated with NSW National Parks and Wildlife Services and the Nowra Fire Control Centre to gain approvals to fly in an area with active bushfire operations and nearby restricted airspace. Despite it being more than 30 days since the fire passed, the thermal camera was also able to pick up hotspots where logs and stumps continued to burn.

The use of passive thermal sensors enables ecological surveys to be carried out quickly where access on foot would have been difficult or dangerous, while reducing disturbance to fauna.