On 2nd November, findings from a report on the
behaviour of Emperor penguins in the Antarctic were published thanks to the
help of a robotic rover dressed as a penguin chick. The researchers, from the
French National Centre for Scientific Research, told BBC news they were trying
to find "a less invasive and stressful way to collect data on these
species", which are known to be extremely timid.
Dr Yvon Le Maho, who led the study, found that when
approached by humans, the penguins’ heart rates would increase considerably, so
came up with the idea of using a rover to study them in their normal state.
Early models looked a little like remote controlled cars and Dr Yvon explained
to BBC news that "Emperors huddle together, because they have no [other]
territorial defence… So when they see the rover approaching, they get very
stressed.”
Five models later, and the researchers had disguised the
rover as a fluffy chick. The penguins seemed much more comfortable around it,
even huddling with it and trying to communicate with it.
The scientists wanted to avoid the usual approach of tagging
flippers, because they felt it was “unethical” and altered the penguins’
health. They worked with nature filmmakers to come up with a new approach of
using under-the-skin transponders, which work like microchips. The rover can
recognise the transponders within 60cm of a penguin, providing useful data for
scientists.
"Scientists do not generally speak about disturbance
they cause," Dr Le Maho told BBC News. “But I have always been very
concerned with that - it relates to both science and ethics."
