Drones flown to save animals trapped by La Palma’s volcano
Much attention has been turned to the spectacular destructive forces of continuing volcanic activity on the Spanish island of La Palma. Now a pair of groups is using drones to care for overlooked victims of the volcano: animals left stranded and starving by advancing lava flows.
The local La Palma partners began flying drone missions last week in search of animals trapped in remote areas after somehow surviving the molten lava that had surrounded them. Tech and communications company Ticom Soluciones has been using its UAVs to monitor the volcano’s activity for some time. It joined forces with educational and search and rescue organization Volcanic Life to stage missions locating any creatures that managed to escape their fiery entrapment – only to face dehydration and starvation while cut off from the rest of the island.
The missions began October 7 after live creatures were spotted in the upper part of La Palma’s Todoque area. Lava flows have cut off road access to and around the region, and ash that continues to be spewed into the air prevents helicopter operation. As a result, Ticom and Volcanic Life consulted with the local governing body, Cabildo de la Palma, and immediately got the okay to start piloting their drones to find as many animals stranded by the volcano as possible.
