Federal scientists will begin using drones to monitor beluga whales in Cook Inlet as part of an effort to restore the endangered animals.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will use the unmanned aircraft to gather more information on belugas that have stranded.
NOAA biologist Barbara Mahoney says the drones will provide details that aren’t available from a horizontal perspective, such as whether the animals are in a pool of water or partially submerged. She says the additional information could be crucial to determining a whales’ chance of survival.
Scientists tested the drones in August on a pair of stranded belugas on a mudflat in the Turnagain Arm. Mahoney says the drone produced quality images. Cook Inlet is home to about 340 belugas.
