Helicopters, recognized for their versatility, speed, and agility, play a crucial role in various aerial projects. Among these, their contribution to wildlife conservation and management is particularly significant. For over half a century, helicopters have been an essential tool for studying and protecting wildlife.
The Role of Helicopters in Wildlife Conservation
Helicopters are routinely used as an efficient and reliable means of studying and tracking wildlife on animal preserves. They are instrumental in conducting population surveys that aid in wildlife conservation and in performing life-saving capture procedures for wildlife in need of urgent medical care.
The ability of helicopters to survey large areas of land efficiently and quickly is a key advantage. They are not limited by the availability of roads, trails, or infrastructure, and their low-level flight capabilities allow biologists to observe animals that might otherwise be hidden by topography or vegetation.
History of Helicopters in Wildlife Management
Before the widespread use of helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft were often used in wildlife management. However, they lacked the agility, low-altitude deck, and lifting capabilities necessary to deal with many wildlife species. The use of helicopters in wildlife conservation began in the 1950s and became commonplace by the early 1970s.
Helicopter Surveys and Wildlife Conservation
The helicopter’s ability to hover, travel at low-level altitudes, and perform quick, precise maneuvers proved essential to tracking and surveying wildlife herds and animal populations. Surveys conducted using helicopter observation generate important data about the wildlife populations and prove essential for the country’s conservation efforts and tracking of native wildlife.
Today, population estimates made from animal surveys help wildlife managers across the country set game seasons, tag quotas for hunting, and protect endangered or at-risk populations of wild animals. Moreover, monitoring ratios of animals—like fawns to does, or bucks to does—help provide information on reproduction in herds and fawn survival.
Wildlife Capture and Conservation
As the use of helicopters became more sophisticated in wildlife conservation, their lifting and transportation capabilities have been applied to wildlife capture. This has been used to obtain critical and reliable information to ensure wildlife health and prosperity.
Wild animals are generally captured and released to conduct research by gathering samples, taking measurements, testing for diseases, and placing tracking and monitoring devices that help scientists study and conserve animal populations. Wildlife is also often captured for relocation to establish new populations, disperse overpopulated herds, and protect sensitive and endangered species.
Aerial Surveys and Wildlife Conservation
Aerial surveys are among the most central tools of wildlife conservation. These surveys, dependent on the use of helicopters for noninvasive aerial transport, help to determine whether conservation efforts are effective, monitor changes in population and habitat, select responsible harvests for game species, and provide a picture of the health and diversity of a property’s wildlife.
When conducting survey operations, animals are disturbed for only a few minutes at a time, and research has shown that animals in a surveyed area may see a helicopter only once in every 3-5 years. Researchers and biologists approach survey operations with a detailed knowledge and understanding of how certain species are likely to react to the presence of a helicopter or the noise it produces.
Wildlife Tracking and Conservation
Scientists, landowners, and park municipalities catch and release animals fitted with tracking collars or chips. This humane procedure allows scientists to collect detailed wildlife data to conserve and preserve wildlife herds.
Researchers typically use data supplied by radio collars to track seasonal movements of animals, monitor population, and set game seasons. Because radio collar data helps determine mortality rates, fish and game societies often use radio collars to adjust hunting seasons and reduce the impact on populations.
Wildlife Capture, Relocation, and Medical Care
When needed, park rangers and scientists capture, relocate, or treat wildlife in need of life-saving medical care. These operations require careful planning and coordination.
The process of capturing or relocating wildlife involves several steps. First, the animal or group of animals is identified and herded at a slow speed to an area where the capture can be safely performed with as little stress to the animals as possible. Next, an individual or a small group of animals is split away from the larger group and directed to an area where capture or medical care can safely occur. Finally, the individual or small group of animals is pursued in a positive capture mode. This is the most critical phase of the capture operation and, in general, pursuits should not last longer than 30 seconds.
An Invaluable Tool
Helicopters have proven to be an invaluable tool in wildlife conservation, providing a means to efficiently and effectively study and protect wildlife. From conducting aerial surveys to aiding in the capture and relocation of animals, helicopters continue to play a crucial role in preserving our planet’s biodiversity.