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by using a drone they could get much closer to the trees than
was possible with an airplane or helicopter. Convinced they had
found the ideal solution to their research challenge, they built the
drone themselves, outfitted it with a camera, and then prepared
to launch it.
Exploring Treetop Habitats
Their first drone mission took place in February 2012. Once the
drone was in the sky, Koh and Wich had no idea what to expect.
“It was particularly nerve wracking,” says Koh, “because we were
not certain that the drone would return to us after that mission.”
5
Researchers have had dif culty
studying orangutan behavior
because these apes spend a lot
of time in dense jungle treetops.
Camera-equipped drones provide
a way to see orangutans in their
natural habitats in Sumatra and
in Borneo (pictured).
