Antler detection from the sky: deer sex ratio monitoring using drone-mounted thermal infrared sensors

Sex differences in large mammals with sexual dimorphism are important ecological and evolutionary issues and key factors for wildlife management. To examine the potential use of drone (unmanned aerial vehicle; UAV) observation using thermal infrared images for sex ratio monitoring of deer, we conducted UAV surveys at night in a sparse forest located on the distribution periphery of sika deer Cervus nippon and wild boar Sus scrofa local populations during summer and winter. Of the 163 thermal infrared images of large mammals detected, 132 (81.0%) and 16 (9.8%) were identified for deer and wild boar, respectively. In addition, velvet antlers of deer were visually recognized during summer, and 92% of the detected deer were antlered. This biased sex ratio would be a characteristic in the distribution periphery of local deer populations. Therefore, monitoring abundance and sex ratio using thermal infrared sensors on UAVs can improve deer management especially in the distribution periphery of local populations.

Automated summary

Sex differences and sexual dimorphism are important ecological and evolutionary issues in large mammals, as well as key factors for wildlife management. This study explores the potential use of drone observation with thermal infrared images for monitoring the sex ratio of deer in the periphery of their distribution. The results showed that thermal infrared sensors on UAVs can effectively detect and identify large mammals, particularly deer. Monitoring the abundance and sex ratio of deer using this method can improve deer management, especially in peripheral areas.