How are the UAVs used?

The drones use FLIR thermal energy, meaning they use embedded thermal cameras to detect warm bodies at night. The core use of these drones is to detect and observe for research without scaring off wildlife. 

There are numerous opportunities that these types of drones have opened for wildlife conservation in Africa, including the deterrence of poachers. Usually, poaching occurs at night, and most of the time, they have been able to operate unhindered and freely and have been immune to detection. However, with the thermal-equipped drones, the paradigm has changed and the transformation has begun.

Counting and detecting animals at night presents an opportunity for increased accuracy, as they tend to graze and feed in open fields where they are easier to see and are not hidden by vegetation shades.