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Argos animal tags send information to a system of satellites in orbit. The satellites then send the location of the tag back to receivers on the Earth’s surface ("What is Satellite Telemetry?" 2018).

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GPS animal tags receive and collect information about the time and position of the animal from a satellite and use this information to calculate an exact location ("What is Satellite Telemetry?" 2018).

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In satellite tracking, or telemetry, an animal carries a tracking device on its body and its location is calculated through satellites that orbit the Earth (Hofman et. al., 2019).
Telemetry means “distance measuring,” in Greek ("Why satellite tracking?" 2020).

Satellite technology allows scientists to track the position and movement of threatened and endangered animals anywhere on the planet (Hart, 2009).

Different animals require different tracking devices.

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Scientists study the movements of individual animals using satellite telemetry to understand how they adapt to the changing climate (Laidre, et al., 2018)

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Why do we track polar bears?

This important work helps us to understand the impact that climate change, toxic pollution and other threats are having on different polar bear populations. An important part of polar bear research is understanding the movements of the bears, particularly in relation to sea ice.

To understand how they travel

From the data collected, scientists can determine when a female enters a den, when she emerges with cubs and how far she travels each day. They can also map a polar bear's range to determine whether individuals travel vast distances or remain strictly within their home range.

Over time this information reveals changes and adaptations. For example, in years when there is less sea ice, it will tell us where bears go and how they adapt.

To monitor health

When scientists fit a bear with a radio collar, they also collect important information about its health by:

measuring Its length and weight

taking samples of blood, fat, hair, and other tissues to identify any toxic contamination

estimating its age. Like the rings of a tree, the polar bear's teeth have thin layers of bone that show its age. Scientists pull a small tooth, located just behind the large canine teeth and of no use to the bear.

How do we track the bears?

Scientists observe the bears in their natural habitats and use radio collars to track their movements. The collar sends signals via satellite that are used to plot the bear's path.

Only female polar bears can be tracked using radio collars. Male polar bears have necks that are wider than their head, so the collars simply fall off.

Watch polar bear researchers in action:

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This important work helps us to understand the impact that climate change, toxic pollution and other threats are having on different polar bear populations. An important part of polar bear research is understanding the movements of the bears, particularly in relation to sea ice.

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Poaching is the illegal hunting, killing or capturing of animals.  People poach because animal products, such as hide, ivory, horn, teeth and bone, are sold to others who make clothes, jewelry and other materials from them ("Poaching facts for kids", 2019). Many endangered species are desirable for their parts, so scientists are securing animals with tracking collars so they can view and predict their movements (Nichols, 2018). When an animal moves strangely and shows signs that it's in danger, a poacher could be trying to hunt the animal. Scientists can investigate to make sure the animal is safe (Nichols, 2018).

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Defending Elephants with GPS tracking using Google Earth

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Scientists and conservationists at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary use GPS tracking devices to learn more about raptor life cycles and migration. They tag black vultures by  harnessing trackers that weigh 30 grams (about the mass of 12 pennies) to the vulture’s back. This process does not hurt the vulture nor make activities such as feeding, breeding, or soaring difficult. All of the trackers are charged by solar panels, which last longer than regular batteries, allowing scientists collect more long-term data ("Why satellite tracking?", 2020).

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1. ACCURACY- Both GPS and Argos satellite tracking provide scientists with an extremely accurate location of an animal at a given point in time (Tomkiewicz, Fuller, Kie, & Bates, 2010).

2. RANGE- Satellite telemetry makes studying species that move large distances across international boundaries a lot easier (Gillespie, 2001)

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Electronically tracking insects!? Insects are so small, it is hard to attach a tracking device other than a coded sticker.

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Scientists are starting to experiment using tiny radio tracking devices on insects like monarch butterflies to study their phenomenal 5,000 mile round trip migration from Northern United States and Canada to Mexico and California (Knight, Pitman, Flockhart, & Norris, 2019).

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Monarch Butterflies Get Tiny Radio Trackers | Expedition Raw

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1. SIZE- The biggest con to these tags is their size. Because of the power supply they use, satellite tags are heavy. If the tag is powered by a battery it may only last one year or less. Larger animals can wear a satellite tag powered by solar panels that could last the entire lifetime of the animal (Meyburg, 1999).

2. COST- The cost of one satellite tag is between $3,000 and $7,000 ("What is Satellite Telemetry? 2018). Because scientists need to study more than just one animal, using satellite tags is very expensive research to conduct (Tomkiewicz, Fuller, Kie, & Bates, 2010).

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Shanthi, an elephant in Sri Lanka with a GPS satellite collar. 

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Shanthi, an elephant in Sri Lanka with a GPS satellite collar. 

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Satellite trackers give scientists knowledge about where raptors such as vultures, hawks, owls, and falcons are going and why. This allows scientists to understand where these birds migrate, what habitats they depend on, and what threats they face (Meyburg, 1999). By gathering information on the movement of raptors, scientists can better understand how to protect them ("Why satellite tracking?", 2020).

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Check out the interactive tracking maps to see the movement of each individual bird!

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Studying the movement of insects like the monarch help protect this important threatened pollinator species. Many insects also carry diseases that are harmful to humans. Scientists hope to use satellite technology to stop potential outbreaks to prevent diseases from spreading (Nichols, 2018).

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Centre for Conservation and Research. (2013). Retrieved from:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nationalzoo

E&O, C. of M. L. (2010). C49. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/55038698@N03/5179244571/in/photolist

GPS-satellite-orbiting-USCG (2008). Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/17444800@N00/2606179566/in/photolist

Judy Royal Glenn Photography. (2018) Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/judyroyalglenn/46657347854/in/photolist

Satellite transmitter on an imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca) Retrieved from https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/satellite-transmitter-on-imperial-eagle-aquila

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Ceriani, S. A., Roth, J. D., Evans, D. R., Weishampel, J. F., & Ehrhart, L. M. (2012). Inferring foraging areas of nesting loggerhead turtles using satellite telemetry and stable isotopes. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3447946

Hofman MPG, Hayward MW, Heim M, Marchand P, Rolandsen CM, et al. (2019) Right on track? Performance of satellite telemetry in terrestrial wildlife research. PLOS ONE 14(5): e0216223. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0216223

Knight, S. M., Pitman, G. M., Flockhart, D. T. T., & Norris, D. R. (2019). Radio-tracking reveals how wind and temperature influence the pace of daytime insect migration. Biology Letters, 15(7), 20190327. doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2019.0327

Laidre, K. L., Born, E. W., Atkinson, S. N., Wiig, Ø., Andersen, L. W., Lunn, N. J., … Heagerty, P. (2018, January 18). Range contraction and increasing isolation of a polar bear subpopulation in an era of sea-ice loss. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5817132

Meyburg, B.-U. & Meyburg, C. 1999. The study of raptor migration in the Old World using satellite telemetry. In:
Adams, N.J. & Slotow, R.H. (eds) Proc. 22 Int. Ornithol. Congr., Durban: 2992-3006. Johannesburg: BirdLife South
Africa.

Nichols, M. R. (2018). Why Do Scientists Want to Track Animals via Satellite? Retrieved from https://interestingengineering.com/why-do-scientists-want-to-track-animals-via-satellite

Tomkiewicz, S. M., Fuller, M. R., Kie, J. G., & Bates, K. K. (2010, July 27). Global positioning system and associated technologies in animal behaviour and ecological research. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2894966

What is Satellite Telemetry? (2018). Retrieved from https://nationalzoo.si.edu

Why satellite tracking? (2020). Retrieved from https://www.hawkmountain.org

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Male elephant seal with satellite tag on its head.

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Male elephant seal with satellite tag on its head.

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Loggerhead turtle with solar panel satellite tracker glued to carapace.

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Loggerhead turtle with solar panel satellite tracker glued to carapace.