Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 25, 2025
08:28
Using Pharmacological Manipulation and High-precision Radio Telemetry to Study the Spatial Cognition in Free-ranging Animals
Published on: November 6, 2016
7.0K
Review of research methodologies for tigers: telemetry.
Clayton S Miller1, Mark Hebblewhite1, John M Goodrich1
1Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, NY, USAWildlife Biology Program, College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA.
Integrative Zoology
|March 12, 2011
Summary
Wildlife research has advanced significantly with radio telemetry and Global Positioning System (GPS) technology. These tools offer crucial data for understanding animal movements and enhancing tiger conservation efforts globally.
Area of Science:
- Wildlife ecology and conservation science.
- Technological advancements in animal tracking.
Background:
- Wildlife research has historically depended on technological innovations for insights into animal behavior.
- Radio telemetry, developed in the 1960s, marked a significant advancement, followed by Global Positioning System (GPS) technology in the late 1990s.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the historical development and applications of radio telemetry in wildlife research.
- To compare data acquisition methods of telemetry with other techniques like camera trapping and DNA analysis.
- To assess the current use of GPS technology in tiger conservation and its future implications.
Main Methods:
- Historical review of radio telemetry from its origins to current GPS applications.
- Comparative analysis of data types from telemetry versus observational, camera trapping, DNA, and scat analysis.
- Assessment of GPS technology's role in contemporary tiger conservation strategies.
Main Results:
- Radio telemetry, initially used for grizzly bears, found early applications in Asian tiger research.
- GPS collar technology has revolutionized data collection on animal movements and ecology.
- Despite benefits, telemetry studies on wild tigers, particularly Bengal and Amur subspecies, remain limited.
Conclusions:
- Technological advancements, especially GPS, provide unprecedented data for wildlife research and conservation.
- Further application of GPS telemetry is vital for effective tiger conservation strategies.
- Continued research using advanced telemetry can significantly contribute to preserving tiger populations for the future.
