Wildlife Research Program

Wildlife permit number: 10008394/AEC 17-006. Southern Right Whales are Critically Endangered in Victoria and 3FB Aerworx utilising our remotely piloted aircraft systems assisted whale research under wildlife permit number: 10008394/AEC 17-006. Flown from shore to collect photo-identification images of individual Southern Right whales at locations between Warrnambool and Portland. Photo-identification images are being used to investigate survival and movement of calves born in western Victoria. Photos of callosity patterns on the mothers and calves are added to the South East Australian Southern Right Whale Photo-Identification Catalogue (SEA SRW PIC) contributing to an ongoing, national study on population growth and distribution of Southern Right Whales across Australia and New Zealand. 3FB Aerworx would like to remind everyone that without a permit, in accordance with the Wildlife (Marine Mammals) Regulations 2009, RPAS or ‘drones’ are required to keep a distance of at least 500m above and 500m horizontally from a whale.