Tens Of Thousands Of Migrating Turtles Captured by Breathtaking Drone Footage (Pics & Video)

Technology doesn’t just improve humans’ lives; it’s also a useful tool for conservation. Drones, for example, make it easier to observe and track endangered animal species. Researchers recently used one of these devices to measure a population of green sea turtles — and the footage is leaving the world speechless. Ever seen 64,000 migrating turtles in one shot? Well, here’s your chance.

Researchers also determined that surface observers "consistently reported higher proportions of marked turtles" than either the drone or the underwater method, yielding higher population estimates that may have skewed conservation efforts. But that's no longer the case. The Raine Island Recovery Project has already reported a 100% increase in hatchling rates as science and technology combine on the Great Barrier Reef. Check out this other amazing video of the nesting turtles. Raine Island, which is also home to the oldest European structure in tropical Australia, a stone beacon built in 1844, is an important environmental icon which is totally protected from public access. Let's hope it stays that way.