Ukrainian scientists began to study whales with the help of drones

Ukrainian biologists from the Akademik Vernadskyi station began to study whales with the help of drones.

The researchers took photos of humpback whales, killer whales, and sea leopards, and also made acoustic recordings of marine mammals, the National Antarctic Science Center reports.

“Despite all the challenges of a full-scale war, Ukrainian scientists continue scientific research in Antarctica with the involvement of new research methods. So, this season, our biologists started using drones to better study the largest animals on the planet – whales,” the message reads.

The first stage of this work was carried out by Oksana Savenko and Vadym Tkachenko, employees of the Department of Biology and Ecology of the National Center for Biological Sciences, who work within the framework of a seasonal study. Scientists conducted research in the area of the Antarctic Peninsula.

Scientists use drones to measure the size of whales. After that, they can draw conclusions about their age category.

“This, in turn, makes it possible to better understand the state of whale populations, many of which were exterminated by humans in the last century, and the quality of the forage base this year, because some species come to the Antarctic precisely to feed ,” the message states.