The National Institute of Biological Resources (NIBR, President Seo Min-hwan) under the Ministry of Environment announced that it had developed a standardized wild boar detection method appropriate for Korea's mountainous regions. This was achieved using a high-tech drone and establishing a 3D habitat space using the LiDAR* sensor.

* LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging): A technology that creates a 3D image of the shape of an object by firing a laser pulse and measuring the distance to the object based on the time it takes for the light to reflect and return to the target object

Through the ecological analysis using this high-tech drone, the NIBR has secured accurate location information on wild boars. This data serves as the foundation for accurately understanding habitat characteristics such as wild boars' movements, feeding activities, and resting areas.

Until April of this year, the researchers used a drone equipped with a thermal imaging camera to identify a total of 21 wild boars in Sangju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, and Hoengseong, Gangwon-do. These are the areas where African swine fever occurred, and observations indicated that the boars primarily move and feed before sunset and rest immediately after sunrise.

In May, the researchers shot and analyzed the habitat environment at the points wild boars haunt using a drone LiDAR sensor. It was found that wild boars 'move' along the ridges with slightly higher slopes in areas with lush trees, 'feed' on terrain with few trees and gentle slopes, and then 'rest' around hilly areas, which are low mountainous areas with lush trees. 

The NIBR is in the process of developing a standardized wild boar detection method based on a drone equipped with the advanced sensor. It plans to accelerate research on wild boar distribution monitoring and habitat analysis to find ways to preemptively mitigate wild boar damage.

Seo Min-hwan, President of the NIBR, stated, “Using drones, we will be able to identify the wild boar habitat density in dangerous and inaccessible areas, such as steep slopes, and supplement the habitat density results based on field surveys.” He added, “By understanding the habitat characteristics of wild boars through the habitat analysis based on scientific data, we will support the African swine fever quarantine more effectively. This includes optimized searches, strategic selection of fences and trapping equipment locations, etc."

Contact: Jeong Seung-gyu, Environmental Researcher

Climate Change and Environmental Biology Research Division / +82-(0)32-590-7086