On the whole, the robot revolution isn’t a great one. It’s putting a lot of people out of jobs, and maximising profits for gross billionaires. But the introduction of robo bunnies to the Everglades in order to capture massive snakes seems like a pretty positive thing.
When an invasive species is introduced to an environment, it can decimate the native species and crops. This was the case with the Burmese Python. It became present in the Everglades when they escaped from enclosures after Hurricane Andrew. Normally, the huge snake lives in Southeast Asia, where it sits as a pretty dominant predator, but is also matched by other native beasts.
In the Everglades, the Burmese Python is so far up the predator list, it’s untouchable. They have been eating everything, including raccoons, deer, birds, and bobcats. But their favourite snack is the marsh rabbit. So, in an attempt to curb the snake population, robo bunnies are being introduced.
Snack With A Tracker
The robo bunnies are pretty indistinguishable from the real thing for the giant snake. They have been stuffed with electrical components so they can move, be tracked, provide footage, and even have a heat signature. They look delicious to a Burmese Python.
The idea is that the snakes will munch on these robo bunnies and then be full of a tracking chip. The cameras also allow researchers to catch the pythons before they even eat them. This should help the snake herders collect the tens of thousands of giant snakes and curb the population.
The infestation is an issue that needs addressing. The snakes can’t simply be left to continue doing what they’re doing. At the moment, the best way of dealing with it is by going out with a grab stick and a bag. It’s tedious, unreliable, and archaic. Snake-tempting robo bunnies are the future.
“Working in the Everglades for ten years, you get tired of documenting the problem. You want to address it,” wildlife ecologist and UF project leader Robert McCleery told the Palm Beach Post. Let’s just hope those bunnies don’t become sentient. The Everglades doesn’t need the next Apex predator to be mechanical.