– I take calves every single year. It is not nice to find a broken calf, says farmer Stian Førde in Sveio in Western Norway. This year he gets drone help from Knut Ivar Skogland in Tysvær Jeger- og Fiskeforening. – They do not have a chance when a mower with a bang and a crash comes and drives over them. If they are lucky, they die, says Skogland. This deer calf escaped the mower. Photo: Knut Ivar Skogland He describes severely injured calves that have had their legs cut off. On the farmer’s land, two deer calves were rescued before mowing that day. On a national basis, at least 440 have been rescued this year, according to UAS Norway, which is the interest organization for the drone industry. The vast majority of drone operations are only possible with the help of voluntary, or smaller, private actors. The animal protection organization NOAH wants to change that. Anbjørn Kallekodt and Knut Ivar Skogland state that they have saved 16 animals so far this year. Photo: Eli Bjelland / news Will do what is required by law The leader of NOAH, Siri Martinsen, believes that Norwegian municipalities should buy what equipment is needed to save the calves. Siri Martinsen, leader of NOAH. Photo: Ingeborg Undheim / news – We believe the municipality should buy and make available the equipment needed, and that it should be mandatory for the municipalities. In addition, she says that rules should be introduced that make it mandatory to make this type of move before hitting a field. Martinsen is impressed with the possibilities the method opens up. The only thing missing now is to get it into a proper system, she believes. This is how it works At Åfoss in Skien, drone pilot Chris Andre Lundell helps a regular customer. The picture above is from his drone. As he flies over the ground, he looks for clues such as sleeping marks or heat signals from the camera. The drone is fine-tuned to read the correct temperatures in the terrain. When he finds what he thinks may be a calf, he goes out to get it. Although the chances of finding a calf with a drone increase, there is never a guarantee that everyone will be found. The calf in Sveio was discovered in the drone photos. Photo: Knut Ivar Skogland After five assignments this season, one calf had to pay with his life and eight were rescued. Cruel experience Erik Dahl is the leader of the Bamble farmers’ association. He is a farmer himself, and knows well what it is like to drive the mower with his heart in his throat. Leader of Bamble Farmers’ Association, Erik Dahl. Photo: Private – What do you think about the proposal for NOAH? – I can stand behind it. Basically, I am skeptical of everything that is required. But I see no other solution either, than to use drones to save them. According to Dahl, killed calves have always been a problem in agriculture. Not only is it a horrible experience, but it destroys what becomes other animals’ feed when parts of the deer join the hay bale. – It’s not good. Then it has become a taste of decay, and then it is completely destroyed. A deer calf in Porsgrunn had to pay with his life when a farmer was to mow the grass in June. Photo: Lars Tore Endresen / news Success in Eastern Norway In Indre Østfold municipality, they have been using heat-seeking drones since 2020. Today they have a total of five pieces. Game and field manager in Indre Østfold municipality, Pål Sindre Svae, with a deer calf. Photo: Pål Sindre Svae Game and field manager in the municipality, Pål Sindre Svae, believes drones with thermal cameras are here to stay, even though they are not able to save everyone. This year alone, they have rescued 160 deer calves in the municipality, according to Svae. He, and other professionals in the environment, believe that up to 10,000 deer calves are killed each year. Admittedly, it’s not just about running and buying such a drone. The equipment costs anywhere from 60,000 to 80,000 kroner, according to him. – It is demanding to get someone to do it on a voluntary basis. What do you think, should it be mandatory to use a drone with a heat-seeking camera or not? Yes, I think that’s a good idea! No, it’s too much trouble! Show result Will save 1000 Now the Norwegian Hunters’ and Fishermen’s Association also wants to increase its efforts. – We have a goal this year to breed 1000 deer calves that are rescued. It is a realistic goal, says hunting dog and game consultant in the association, Olav Greivstad. According to him, there are several local teams that hold drone courses. Greivstad explains that after they have found the calf, it is moved to the edge of the field so that the deer goat can move it to a safe place. No plans for injunction The Minister of Agriculture and Food, Sandra Borch, states that at present there are no plans to regulate a specific requirement for the use of drones. – I think one should first and foremost find good local solutions for cooperation on this, for example between the agricultural business organizations, the municipalities and volunteers, she writes in an e-mail to news. The deer calf becomes much easier to detect with a heat-seeking camera. Knot Ivar Skogland
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NOAH wants order to use heat-seeking drones to find deer calves – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
