Helicopter wildlife services offers a range of methods where helicopters are used for the management and recovery of wildlife. Helicopters offers a very efficient and low impact on the wildlife habitat by quickly and efficiently locating the target animal.
Net Gun Capture
A method of aerial capture, whereby a net is fired from a net gun over an animal providing instant immobilization. Net gun capture can be a stressful form of capture compared to other forms of capture, however if conducted properly with the use of blindfolds, hobbles and tranquilizers, it can be very effective when having to catch animals that inhabit terrain where darting or building capture bomas are not possible or when catching animals that do not herd well and where darting is too slow.
Chemical/Darting Capture:
The use of a helicopter when having to conduct aerial chemical capture / darting operations provides a stable and agile platform. The helicopter enables you to select an individual animal or specific animals from a herd, the helicopter can then drive the animals to a selected location where darting and recovery can be made easier. The helicopter also allows you to observe and follow the darted animal until such time as it becomes recumbent, it can then be very useful in directing ground crew, right up to the location of the recumbent animal making for a very successful operation.
Mass Capture
A technique used, whereby a large “boma” or “capture corral” is built using game capture plastic or nets or a combination of both. Large or small herds of animals are herded by helicopter into the capture boma, a series of running curtains are closed behind the animals as they move forward through the boma until they reach the loading area, where they are sedated and loaded onto the transport vehicles. This method of capture allows for a large amount of animals to be caught in a short period of time, the animals in most cases are not physically handled and therefore minimal stress is placed on the animals.
Wounded Wildlife Recovery
A method of Arial tracking, in cases where wildlife has been wounded or injured, a helicopter is used for locating and guiding ground teams to such an animal. This method is faster and covers more ground in an efficient manner compared to alternatives like tracking and dogs. Helicopters also have the ability to guide such an animal to better accessible areas for ground teams and recovery teams for better access.
Game Counting and Wildlife Survey
Indigo Helicopters provides animal and game surveys for exotic game, cattle and more. Many wildlife management plans require game surveys to be conducted on an annual basis and the use of a helicopter is required to get an accurate count of males, females and fawns.
Other Services:
- Wildlife Surveys
- Radio Tracking/Telemetry
- Data Collection
- Biological Sampling
- Predator Depredation – Invasive Species Control – Culling
- Radio Collar Placement
- Tagging – Notching
- Transport both Aerial and Ground