Drone surveys reveal previously undocumented serious injuries in Indian River Lagoon dolphins

Wendy Noki Duran presented results from UAS surveys of bottlenose dolphins in Florida's Indian River Lagoon aimed at detecting active and prior serious injuries and assessing nutritional condition. The team conducted 147 flights and overflew 473 dolphins, of which 339 were identifiable; they identified 38 serious injuries (about 11% of individuals scored), including five active entanglements, primarily involving recreational fishing gear. "In total, there were 38 serious injuries that were documented or about 11% of the individuals that were surveyed," Duran said.

The study found that 64% of prior serious injuries had not been previously reported, highlighting under‑detection in conventional monitoring. UAS photogrammetry enabled measurement of respiratory rate and body condition and helped flag animals for follow‑up; however, factors such as water clarity, glare and seasonality limited the ability to detect some entangling monofilament. Duran recommended targeted UAS flights during clearer water seasons, integration with gear‑removal programs, and agency partnerships to enable interventions where drones identify active entanglements.