Real-Time Tracking of Wildlife with IoT Solutions in Movement Ecology

Abstract

Movement ecology has grown increasingly significant in the backdrop of global environmental changes, emphasizing the importance of understanding animal mobility patterns. The integration of Internet of Things (IoT) technology offers transformative potential for real-time wildlife tracking, addressing limitations of traditional methods like radio telemetry. Through IoT devices, researchers can acquire immediate, high-resolution datasets spanning vast distances, capturing multiple data points such as environmental conditions and physiological parameters. Existing implementations range from monitoring elephant movements in Africa to observing bird migrations. However, while promising, challenges like battery longevity, device weight, data management, and animal safety persist. As technological advances emerge, future prospects include more efficient, integrated solutions combining IoT with other technologies, poised to reshape and enrich our understanding of wildlife movement.