# Drone-based application of whale tags: A “tap-and-go” approach for scientific animal-borne investigations

## TL;DR

Researchers developed a drone-based method to attach tags to whales, offering a faster and less invasive alternative to traditional boat-based tagging.

## Contribution

The novel use of FPV racing drones for deploying suction-based tags on whales introduces a less invasive and potentially more automated tagging method.

## Key findings

- The drone-based tagging method achieved an average deployment time of one minute and fifteen seconds.
- The deployment success rate exceeded 55% when tested on sperm whales.
- The method eliminates the need for boats during close approaches, reducing potential disturbance to the whales.

## Abstract

Deploying animal-borne suction-based tag devices on whales has been one of the primary tools used by researchers over the past several decades to gather high-resolution scientific information, such as bioacoustics, heart rate, dive depth, and body orientation. However, the process of successfully applying animal-borne tags is logistically challenging and requires substantial operator skill. Current methods apply tags by approaching the whale in a boat and adhering the tag via a long extension pole. In this study, we explore an alternative approach to apply animal-borne suction-based tag devices using First Person View (FPV) racing drones. These drones have been specifically adapted to withstand exposure to seawater, allowing them to operate effectively in marine environments. The drones are equipped with a custom interface, allowing to release the tag when it is applied on the whale’s back. In this study, we present the development of the delivery drone as well as tag deployment techniques. The proposed method was demonstrated on sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) off Dominica, resulting in fast deployment time (one minute and fifteen seconds on average) and a relatively high deployment success rate (over 55 %). In addition, the presented deployment process offers a less invasive technique for tagging, as boats are not needed for close approaches. These methods also serve as a framework to enable future development of more automated solutions to apply the tag on exact anatomical targets with controlled initial adhesion pressure and without manual operation.