Marine mammals are sentinels of the sea. When dolphins and whales show signs of stress or illness, it often signals deeper problems in the ocean ecosystems we all depend on.

But assessing the health of dolphins and whales is notoriously difficult. That’s because they spend most of their lives underwater, move over vast areas, and cannot be examined closely without causing stress or disturbance.

Our new research provides a promising solution to this problem. Published in the Journal of Thermal Biology, it shows how drone-mounted thermal cameras can help monitor dolphins’ vital signs such as skin temperature and breathing patterns.

Scientists have typically relied on hands-on methods to assess the health of wild marine mammals. These include attaching tagging devices or taking measurements during capture and handling.

While these methods can be effective, they are also invasive, expensive, logistically complex, and can alter the animals’ behaviour and physiology. This can induce stress, making results harder to interpret.

To fix this problem, researchers need tools that allow them to monitor dolphins repeatedly and accurately, while minimising disturbance.

One example is drones fitted with thermal cameras.

Thermal cameras detect heat emitted from surfaces, allowing........

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