March 2, 2003
Tracking Moose by SMS
The New Zealand Star reports that researchers from the University of Agricultural Sciences of Stockholm are tagging several dozen moose with special cell phones to track their eating habits and movements across the country. Updates by SMS will be sent to the scientists 7 times a day.
Other such experiences have been conducted involving both wildlife and SMS. Last year, UK's Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust tagged 20'000 geese and tracked them with satellite technology from the breeding grounds of Canada to Ireland, a 3'000 km flight. Mobile phone users were able to sign up online for text messages on the whereabouts of the migrating geese.
And from the Scottish waters, seals sent out SMS to scientists, according to an article in Ananova. Tiny tags were fitted on their coats to track their movements and their location pinpointed by satellite global positioning system. As the seals approached shorelines and were within mobile phone coverage, data stored was then sent by SMS from the seals to the land.
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