Using drones to detect and save animals in trouble

Drone pilot Doug Thron uses his drones and infrared photography to unearth wildlife that are victims of natural disasters. His exploits are chronicled in the series Doug To The Rescue. — Photos: CuriosityStream/TNS

The new high-flying drones are utilised for all kinds of missions, from surveillance to backyard play. But Doug Thron uses them to save the lives of animals.

Thron is an aerial cinematographer who has adopted drone photography for his art. But he elevated that art when he discovered infrared drones that could pierce the devastation left by wildfires and hurricanes, revealing wildlife trapped in their wake.