A new scientific study using the latest technology has counted 2,300 more seals on a stretch of beach – and could go on to help conservation efforts.
Volunteers on the ground counted 6,200 seals along a 8km (4.9-mile) run of shoreline around Winterton-on-Sea in Norfolk.
But more than 8,500 seals were counted by drone cameras and the use of artificial intelligence (AI). “This difference is likely due to the drone’s aerial perspective,” said Gabriella Fasoli, a scientist at Natural England, which is running a pilot project.
“[It] provides a unique viewpoint from above, allowing for a more accurate count by detecting seals that may be hidden or less visible from the ground.”
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