Drone operators in the Territory face a lot of unique challenges, from extreme environmental conditions (such as distance, heat, humidity, monsoon storms and dusty deserts), to wedge-tailed eagles taking out drones - watch the video on YouTube. Now drone operators can add another uniquely Territorian challenge to the list: crocodiles.
During filming of a new documentary, Crocodile Territory, ABC cameraman Dane Hirst was operating a camera drone over a lagoon at Crocodylus Park when one of the crocodiles he was taking footage of launched out of the water, taking the drone down.
"I lined the drone up and moved over the top of him, and as I was doing that I looked up towards the lagoon and saw a crocodile vertical out of the water and heard the great clamping noise of a crocodile's jaws coming together."
Dane Hirst, Drone operator
Two weeks later the drone was found mangled and full of bite holes on the bank of the lagoon, damaged beyond repair but with the footage still intact.
The Territory Government is supporting the development of a drone industry in the Northern Territory. In August it release an initial directions paper, seeking feedback for industry for its policy position on the drones industry and future development. It also provides support to the NT Drones Industry Committee, a collaborative group of business, industry, academia and government leading the Northern Territory drone industry.
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