Urbanization has testify to be a rough deal for the desert tortoise . Its rude habitat in the Sonoran and Mojave deserts of California remain to shrivel up as development spreads . Meanwhile , the universe of one their most dire predators , the raven , has flourished in light of the abundant source of food for thought and tax shelter provided by humans . AsMotherboardreports , a tortoise conservationist now hopes to defend the species using some unconventional bodyguard .
The Guardian Angel is a remote - ascertain vehicle drivers can sail online using alive - video recording streaming from a camera onboard . It ’s the inspiration ofHardshell Labs , a corporation launch by desert biologist Tim Shields . Shields has devote decades of his life to studying the desert tortoise , and now he ’s using RC cars to protect them from predators .
Ravens ca n’t seem to stand the rovers — by motor them among tortoise the squad can keep the bird from attack vulnerable juveniles . Unlike the ravens , the tortoises apparently are n’t trouble by the Guardian Angels . The vehicles are close in speed and size to a tortoise , and , as Tim Shields describes on theproject internet site , the beast get used to the devices once they ’ve had a probability to contain them out . harmonise to Shields there “ comes a present moment when curiosity overwhelm caveat and the tortoise border on the roamer for a sniff . Always a sniff test and always one of the tires . After that , the tortoise loses almost all interest in the scouter . ”
The squad at Hardshell Labs is investigating another Corvus corax - repelling tactic . Because ravens ' oculus are sapiently sensitive to a certain wavelength of fleeceable light , lasers can be used to guard them off . The tests so far do n’t indicate any permanent damage done to their eyes , and the birds seem to flee before becoming accustomed to the lights .
If using optical maser to protect tortoises from ravens sounds like your estimate of a serious metre , Shields could use your aid . His team at Hardshell Labs is develop an augmented reality app that allows players to direct optical maser and keep marauder at true laurel . Hardshell Labs is one of many groupsgamifying conservationto get the public involved . As Tim Shieldssays , “ saving the world should be fun . ”
[ h / tMotherboard ]
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