The drone itself was carrying a
GoPro camera which has become quite popular recently. Digital journalists seem to run into quite a
few stories involving the #GoPro movement. Edwards shared his experiences with the site
DroneAbove and the video itself became very popular online.
Humpback Whales are
being trapped in some areas of the pacific. While the developed world has
many laws prohibiting the hunting of the whales they are sometimes caught in traps meant to catch other sea creatures. Although the video was shot off the coast of Maui these are concerns for whales all over the world.
Drones have also been praised for their capabilities in
conservation studies. As you may note in the video having a drone fly way above the whales is much less disturbing than having some guy on a ship come in with a camera. They also have the advantage of being able to record areas that normal aircraft cannot fit into. Drones have even been used to protect
endangered animals.
The final frontier for environmental drones is actually using them to clean up the environment. One drone
in development shows some promise since it can theoretically suck up polluted water, remove contaminants and return the clean water to create a healthy environment.
