A Donated Drone is Helping Save Whales Worldwide

A drone vehicle donated by a Keasbey company is engaging in an exciting mission to prevent Japanese whaling ships from killing an endangered species.

 donated a drone, the Nicole Montecalvo, to help the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) catch a Japanese whaling fleet before any whales were killed. The drone - an unmanned aerial vehicle that can fly independently or be operated remotely - was released by the Sea Shepherd ship, the Steve Irwin, named after the famous Australian "crocodile hunter".

SSCS is an international marine conservation group which uses direct action, such as tracking whaling vessels, to expose and publicize activities such as the Japanese destruction of whales at sea.

The drone will help track and follow the Japanese factory ship, the Nisshin Maru, which was able to escape the ships’ interception on Christmas Day. This drone will also assist in helping protect the fleet and its crew, and alert them to potential dangers during the chase.

Bayshore president and her team are thrilled to hear of the impact their donated drone is making on marine wildlife protection.

“Bayshore Recycling Corp’s mission is to help preserve the planet and its precious natural resources through conservation, recycling and maximum use of renewable energy,” Montecalvo said in a statement. “It is our honor to assist noteworthy organizations such as the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society in their endeavor to save wildlife and endangered habitats for future generations.

"To quote Steve Irwin, ‘I am a wildlife warrior…..my job, my mission and the reason I have been put on this planet, is to save wildlife.’ In some small but meaningful way, we hope that our company can help carry on his mission," she said.

To promote and encourage Bayshore’s conservation efforts, Bayshore’s owners donated the drone to the SSCS vessel last May to aid and assist in locating Japanese whaling fleets in protected sanctuaries, as well as target blue fin tuna poaching operations off the coast of Libya. The whole endeavor is part of the “Operation Divine Wind” campaign to protect the world’s oceans.

Bayshore’s long-range drone is fitted with cameras and detection equipment to support SSCS’s mission in marine wildlife conservation.

The donated drone was delivered on board by the vessel security officer during transit to Antarctica to search for the Japanese flagship of the whaling fleet.