Aerial survey captures herd of elk in U.S.
The video taken by Jason Clay, Public Information Officer of Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) shows the moving herd as observed from a helicopter.
Two aspects were the focus of this aerial survey, showing how the elk survived the Cameron Peak Fire as well as helping biologists to determine the herds' population demographics and a population estimate, Clay told Reuters in an email.
The Cameron Peak Fire burned the area between August and December and was the largest wildfire recorded in Colorado, according to a statement by CPW.
The survey found the herd mainly unaffected by the fire and biologist Angelique Curtis classified around 4,200 elk during the seven-hour flight, CPW said.
The last aerial survey was flown in 2006 and the video was taken to showcase the work and the lengths that go into ensuring the duration of disturbance to the elk is limited and show the safety aspects, Clay told Reuters.
"A lot of animal welfare goes into it," Cameron Stallings, Chief Pilot from Aero Tech, Inc. said in a statement. "You don't want to run them through fences or over cliffs or run them too long, things like that. Flying in the mountains when it is windy is difficult and there are things you have to consider there."
The fire's potential long term effects are not yet known, CPW said.
