Aussie scientists turn to drones to protect sea turtles

An undated handout picture taken from a drone shows green turtles nesting on at the world’s largest green turtle rookery on Raine Island, a remote vegetated coral cay situated 620 km north west of Cairns. Australian researchers have discovered they were underestimating numbers at the world's largest sea turtle nesting site after turning to drone technology for the first time. — Handout/Great Barrier Reef Foundation/AFP

BRISBANE, Australia: Australian researchers have discovered they were underestimating numbers at the world's largest sea turtle nesting site after turning to drone technology for the first time.

Raine Island, off the northern tip of Australia, plays host to around 60,000 female green turtles who migrate hundreds of kilometres from the Great Barrier Reef to lay their eggs each year.