Infrared-equipped drones can effectively track wild Asian elephants at high temporal resolution, providing a practical tool for real-time monitoring, conflict prevention, and ecological research, according to a new study by researchers from the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Published in Journal of Applied Ecology on June 25, the study demonstrates that off-the-shelf drones equipped with infrared cameras can track wild Asian elephants with high temporal resolution, offering a powerful tool for conflict mitigation and ecological research.

The researchers conducted the study after a herd of 17 wild Asian elephants entered XTBG in May 2021, which presented a rare opportunity to evaluate drone-based surveillance under real-world management conditions. Over 20 consecutive days, they conducted hourly infrared monitoring, collecting high-frequency data on the elephants' locations and behavioral patterns.

Despite challenging conditions, including monsoon rains and high humidity, the drone achieved an overall success rate of 62.7% in locating the elephants. Detection rates peaked dramatically during the night, reaching an impressive 95% near midnight, a critical time for human-elephant conflict. The infrared camera was especially valuable in low-light conditions and beneath the dense forest canopy, where conventional visible-light cameras often failed.

The elephants' activity patterns were heavily influenced by human presence. Movement peaked during twilight hours (7:00–8:00 a.m. and 8:00–9:00 p.m.), when human activity within the botanical garden was at its lowest. This clear temporal niche partitioning suggests that elephants actively adjust their schedules to reduce encounter risks.

"Our findings show that drones can provide the real-time data needed to manage conflict effectively, even in challenging forest environments," said DENG Yun of XTBG.

Step-selection function analysis further revealed that elephants exhibited a strong preference for areas near water sources and on gentle slopes, while canopy structure and vegetation density had negligible effects on their habitat choices.

This study has direct applications for human-elephant conflict mitigation. From 2011 to 2020, Asian elephants were responsible for 35 human deaths and 29 injuries in Xishuangbanna. During the 20-day trial, the drone monitoring enabled staff to adjust site operations in near-real time, and no major human-elephant incidents were recorded, demonstrating the immediate conservation value of the approach.

"These findings indicate that drone monitoring can effectively support real-time early warning systems and provide scientific evidence for mitigating human-elephant conflicts. We recommend prioritizing night flights and focusing searches along key areas such as riverside corridors," said Ahimsa Campos-Arceiz of XTBG.

The researchers emphasized that drones should be viewed as a complement to existing monitoring tools rather than a replacement, strengthening an integrated early-warning framework while maintaining proven ground-based methods.

Examples of elephant behaviours: (a) feeding; (b) drinking/bathing; (c) moving; (d) resting (Image by XTBG)