Can drones be used to take whale tissue samples? Scientists from Canada and the United States recently did just that.  They used special drones to collect various samples of microbes that live inside the breath of whales. These samples will allow scientists and researchers to better understand what makes whales healthy and what makes them sick.

Although the scientists have yet to determine how the microbes affect the health of whales, many of them are found in other marine mammals, which seems to indicate that they play a role in these animals’ health. The scientist’s study also shows how the latest drone technology can be used to gather tissue samples from marine mammals.

The scientists managed to acquired their samples from the snot and spray of water that comes out of the blowhole on top of whales’ heads. These holes, which the animals use for breathing, are difficult to reach using conventional aircraft and seaborne vessels, which is why drones were used.

In the past, scientists collected their samples by driving a small boat towards whales and then holding a 23 foot pole that features a collection apparatus over the whale’s blowhole. Needless to say, such measures were dangerous, not only for researchers, but also for the whales themselves.

The whale researchers found the perfect alternative in drones. By attaching a petri dish onto a remote controlled hexacopter, the researchers were able to acquire their samples by flying their drones over the blowholes of humpback whales, and the entire endeavor has been a success. The researchers were able to use their drones to collect samples from 26 different humpback whales from two different locations: Cape Cod and Vancouver Island.

The researchers also managed to identify 25 species of microbes from their samples, including 20 organisms which are commonly found in other species of marine mammals. The existence of these microbes suggest that these organism may somehow be related to the respiratory health of many marine mammals.

Although researchers still lack the details about the functions of such microbes, they do allow scientists to monitor the health of whales. Additionally, these microbes can also help researchers to better understand how pollutants affects whales as well as identify potential pathogens.

The use of drones to acquire samples is not confined to whales or marine biology, however. In Hawaii, several botanists are using drones to track down and acquire rare plants, such as those that grow on cliffs and other inaccessible areas. As time goes on and drone technology increases, we can expect drones to play a major role in studying wildlife.