Pros and Cons

Drones

Pros

  • Because of the advancement and affordability of technology, drones provide a flexible and accurate solution to conservation monitoring and law enforcement (1, 5, 8).
  • Drones can provide quick maneuverability to track fast-moving wildlife or retreat quickly if needed (8).
  • Drones can also monitor large areas of wilderness that are difficult to monitor on foot (8).
  • Drones can provide empowerment and spark curiosity to the people who learn how to use them (8).

Cons

  • Some drones are limited in the amount of weight they can carry. However, because technology is getting smaller and smaller (i.e. cameras and recording equipment), this is becoming less of a concern (8).
  • Drones are mostly limited because of laws and regulations restricting their use. In fact, the US National Park Service has banned the use of privately-owned drones in all parks over safety concerns, impacts to wildlife and potential harassment of visitors (8). Personally, I have witnessed the impact of drones on animals in a zoo setting. When the drone was flown over animal exhibits, some animals showed visible signs of stress while others showed signs of curiosity.
  • Drones can be invasive, loud and create confusion, fear, and hostility (8). A study in 2012 mentioned a specific instance in Tanzania where there is a prevalent local belief of Popo Bawa (Bat Wing in English) that flies at night, paralyzes their victim and rapes them (8). The introduction of drones in the area caused fear and alarm among the local people!

Balloons/Kites

Pros

  • Balloons and kites are much more affordable than drones and provide a participatory approach to aerial mapping.
  • Kites a creative and playful approach to mapping for all ages (6). Participants are involved in the entire process of crafting the kite, affixing the camera and casting it to the wind.

Cons

  • Balloons and kites are often stationary and difficult to control direction once deployed. This means it is difficult to track any moving animals, and it is more efficient to document stationery items, like coastlines (3), loss of forest cover (5), or even orangutan nests (5)
  • If multiple images are needed to create a large map, expensive stitching software may be required (3).