Drones for Non‑Invasive Marine Health

Thermal cameras on drones can noninvasively measure dolphin blowhole temperature and breathing rates in the wild and, when validated against hands‑on measures, offer a scalable tool for early detection of population health problems without stressing animals. Validated remote physiological monitoring could shift conservation from reactive to proactive interventions. — If broadly adopted and standardized, drone‑based physiological monitoring would change how governments and NGOs detect marine‑mammal crises, allocate conservation funding, and set regulatory priorities for coastal management.