Whale breath collected by drones is giving clues to the health of wild humpbacks and other whales. Scientists flew drones equipped with special kit through the exhaled droplets, or “blows”, made when the giants come up to breathe through their blowholes. They detected a highly infectious virus linked to mass strandings of whales and dolphins worldwide. The sampling of whale “blow” is a “game-changer” for the health and well-being of whales, said Prof Terry Dawson of King’s College London. “It allows us to monitor pathogens in live whales without stress or harm, providing critical insights into diseases in rapidly changing Arctic ecosystems,” he said.

Full report : Drones being used to spot deadly virus in arctic whales’ breath.