Lifetime tracker: using kinetic GPS tags to track animals from birth to death

Large-scale GPS tracking studies of how terrestrial mammals move around in their home ranges are only starting to emerge. However, there is a knowledge gap for the vast majority of species, and that is the juvenile dispersal phase from when an animal starts to explore its natal home range, begins its independence and moves away from its mother to find its own home range to settle in. Juvenile dispersal has long been impossible to study using GPS technology because current tracking devices are either too heavy or too fragile to be fitted on young mammals that are still growing, and battery life on devices transmitting data via the conventional GPS network are too short. The same knowledge gap exists for small animals (<2 kg) that are not big enough for current GPS tracking devices.

I propose to advance animal tracking technology by creating a lifetime tracking device small enough to be fitted on small as well as young animals before they even start exploring their natal home-range. I would do this by fusing one of the world’s most recent and smallest GPS units available (5 grams) with a kinetic charging unit, utilising the animal’s own movements to power the device.

I envision developing a tag that allows for large-scale studies into the life of animals from birth until death. It will produce previously unheard-of insight into how mammals are able to disperse and establish themselves in a rapidly changing world.