Deer and drones: The feasibility of scientific research on marsh deer through the use of drones.

• Grant number: 25/01517-4
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: August 01, 2025
• End date: July 31, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Reproduction
• Principal Investigator: José Maurício Barbanti Duarte
• Grantee: José Maurício Barbanti Duarte
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Agda Maria Bernegossi ; Elias Alberto Gutierrez Carnelossi ; Eluzai Dinai Pinto Sandoval ; Eveline dos Santos Zanetti ; Francisco Grotta Neto ; Gonzalo Barquero ; Luciana Diniz Rola ; Pedro Henrique de Faria Peres

Abstract

The marsh deer (Blastocerus dichotomus) is the largest Neotropical deer and is classified as vulnerable to extinction due to habitat loss from agriculture and hydroelectric projects, hunting, and pathogen sharing with domestic ruminants, such as foot-and-mouth disease, bluetongue, and ticks. The species inhabits floodplains and wetlands, which are difficult to access, making research a challenge. The use of helicopters or airplanes has been the only viable method to gather information such as population estimates or capture animals for biological sampling. Consequently, projects involving this species have been both highly expensive and hazardous. Drones have been increasingly employed in wildlife research worldwide and offer the potential to enable various studies on species occupying challenging environments. Therefore, this project aims to evaluate the use of drones for multiple studies on marsh deer, including population estimates, behavioral pattern, collection of fresh fecal samples for endocrine and genetic studies, animal capture for biological sampling and radio-collar deployment, as well as drone-assisted monitoring of radio-collared individuals. Developing protocols to facilitate data acquisition is expected to advance knowledge on the biology of marsh deer and the threats they face, contributing to their conservation. (AU)