Low-flying drones could disrupt whale migration off Australia’s east coast, experts warn
by Sharlotte Thou from on (#6NDRY)
In high-density places such as Sydney many drones may hover over an animal at once, amplifying disturbance pressure
As whales migrate up Australia's east coast in the coming months, drones are hot on their tails. However, experts warn that low-flying drones seeking a viral shot can disrupt the whales' migration patterns and may even place their mating season at risk.
Grace Russell, a PhD candidate at Southern Cross University who studies marine mammals with drones, said whales had been known to exhibit disturbance behaviours when drones were flown nearby at low altitudes.
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