They look like real rabbits, but they are far from being. During the summer, the scientists of the water management district of South Florida and the University of Florida deployed lagomorphic robots in the Everglades. Objective: Locate and move Burmese pythons of this subtropical wetland.
Being among the largest snakes in the world, they are one of the most destructive species and the harmful advantage of the Everglades, which invaded decades ago. Its aggressive depredation harms the native fauna, private panthers, raptors or the lynx of their main food sources.
Burmese pythons that worsen devouring the rabbit Marshes in this area, the scientists decided to use this animal as a lure.
Snakes that are difficult to find
To attract these snakes, robots, 120 in number, produce a thermal firm and emit a specific smell. Equipped with cameras, they alert the district authorities when they detect a python, so that an agent moves and matches them.
Experimentally implemented, these robots of rabbits, which cost 4,000 dollars each, work with solar energy. They can be turned on and extinguished remotely, they are placed in small enclosures monitored by a chamber that sends a signal when a Burmese python is detected.
At the moment, it is still too very, very very very, to determine the success of this project, which is still in your childhood. “However, we are sure of its effectiveness as soon as we have time to refine certain details,” said Mike Kirkland.
This project is the last intentional of the water management district of Southern Florida to eliminate the Birmanos Pythons of the Everglades. It is added to Florida Python Challenge, a 10 -day competition in which participants must kill a maximum of these snakes to earn $ 10,000.
Source: BFM TV
