Mississippi State University researchers taking dolphin studies to new heights

BILOXI, Miss. (WLOX) - Mississippi State University researchers are taking dolphin studies to new heights, using drones equipped with thermal imaging to learn more about the animals that call the Mississippi Sound home.

Holley Muraco, an assistant research professor with Mississippi State University’s Coastal Research and Extension Center, is leading the project. She says the technology makes it possible to study dolphin movements and skin conditions that would otherwise be invisible from the shore.

The idea began with a pilot study flying drones near Cat Island to monitor sea turtles. After seeing how much detail the camera could capture, Muraco wondered if the same tools could work for dolphins. That led to partnerships with Coral World in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Theater of the Sea