Robotic rabbits vs. pythons: an unusual experiment in Florida
In Florida, Everglades National Park has begun using robotic rabbits to lure out and track invasive Burmese pythons that threaten the local ecosystem. Scientists from the University of Florida and specialists from the South Florida Water Management District are working on the project.
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The rabbits are equipped with electric motors and heat generators to mimic the movements and warmth of a live animal. In the future, there are plans to add a scent similar to that of real swamp rabbits, a favourite prey of these snakes. Near the robots are installed cameras and sensors that record when a snake approaches the "bait". The signal is immediately sent to a team of specialists - and the python can be quickly tracked and caught.
About 40 such devices have been implemented so far, with trials starting in July. The first results are already coming in, and although the project is in the testing phase, researchers believe it is promising - including as an alternative to the use of live baits, which is ethically controversial.
Pythons were introduced to the US as exotic pets, but have long been out of control. Now estimated to number in the tens of thousands, they continue to wreak havoc on the ecosystem: populations of small mammals - such as raccoons, possums and rabbits - have fallen to 1-2% of their former levels in some areas.
Robo-rabbits won't solve the problem completely, but they could be an important part of new tactics. Especially in hard-to-reach areas of the marshes where classic trapping methods work poorly.
Source: The Palm Beach Post
