Is the drone a stress source?Task for animal protection National geographic Japanese version

　Even if the flying robot suddenly descends from the sky, the bear may not escape.However, the body may be loaded.

　ドローンと呼ばれる無人航空機（UAV）への動物の反応を調べる研究が、米国ミネソタ州のアメリカクロクマを対象に行われ、その結果が科学誌「Current Biology」に発表された。

　This is the first study of the physiological reaction of wildlife to UAV.Researchers flyed a quadcopter, which is as large as a large plate equipped with four rotation wings, 17 times near the wild bear.

　As a result of measurement by a sensor embedded in the body of a bear in advance, the heart rate of the bear significantly increased in almost all trials.In particular, when the drone increased significantly, a female bear who had just entered the burrow for hibernation also had a significant increase in heart rate.

　Contrary to the expectation, most bears did not show up in the drone, and even if the drone approached to a 10 -meter distance, the action did not change.The exception was two female female scalpels, and one parent and child ran into another bear territory.

　In extreme cases, Mark Ditomers, the University of Minnesota, who led the research that a one -minute heart rate had increased by more than 400 % from 39 to 162 when the drone approached.It is a more intense rise rate than when humans rode a roller coaster that returns twice.

　レクリエーション、産業、自然保護事業などへの活用により、米国の空を飛ぶドローンは日に日に増えている。そんな中で科学者たちが抱き始めている疑問が、ドローンが野生動物に与え得る影響だ。（参考記事：特集「無人飛行機がやってくる」）

　2014年5月には、ユタ州のザイオン国立公園で、ドローンが飛ばされたためビッグホーンの群れが散り散りになり、母子たちがはぐれてしまった。これにより公園側は、特別な許可のないドローンの使用を禁止。ドローンは一般に考えられているほど無害ではないのではという懸念が生まれた。

The meaning of "increased heart rate" is

　On the other hand, it may be ironic, but drones are being used to protect wildlife.

　例えば、ドローンは特定の種の個体数を監視したり、生息域を判定するのにとても有用だ。また、密猟者の位置を上空から特定することで、密猟を未然に防ぐこともできる。（参考記事：「密漁の取締りに無人機を活用」）

　In a not distant future, a larger and sturdy drone may find a hunter's car in a vast and vast area of wildlife, like Tanzania's Serengetti National Park.

　At the same time, drones are also useful for significant efficiency."For example, let's protect the entire coastal area of Gabon," said David Wilky, a protection support director of the Wild Biological Protection Association (WCS).

"You can monitor only two fixed -wing drones that can fly for a long time, and you can monitor just by always flying. And because it is automatic pilot, the staff should be in the capital of Libreville."

　Wilky added that research on American Crummers' heart rate was difficult to interpret.

"It's inappropriate to use the term" stressor "to express a drone," said Wilky."The heart rate indicates the excitement, and the natural reaction. If you hear unfamiliar sounds, any animal will be excited. This is a matter of vigilance and it is not necessarily stressful."

　Therefore, Wilky claims to measure the level of cortisol, a stress hormone.Cortizol can be collected from feces, so you can check the remaining doll after the drone flies.This will provide more powerful information than heart rate.

Is drone gospel or bad news?

　"If many UAVs fly in the sky in the future, rapid stress can occur more frequently than now, which can lead to a number of problems."

"For example, chronic stress affects bear's reproductive ability and the ability to produce, and becomes more pronounced especially when the food is low.

　Scientists generally agree that it is necessary to continue studying both wildlife and physiological reactions."Because it is necessary to confirm that the merits exceed the disadvantages of various species," Wilky says.

　Wilky is an envisel in the future of a larger, quieter, high -performance drone flying in the sky and doing an inseparable protection.

「ドローンには計り知れない可能性があります。その活用はまだ始まったばかりなのです」とウィルキー氏は力を込めた。（参考記事：「すでに活躍中の無人機、5つの現場」）