Discover the Icarus Programme: The Groundbreaking ‘Internet of Animals’ Connecting Wildlife Like Never Before

Martin Wikelski from the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior is excited about a project he founded called the International Co-operation for Animal Research Using Space (Icarus). He imagines an “internet of animals” where data on wildlife is gathered and shared openly. This month, Icarus is launching satellites to track 100,000 animals around the globe. The goal is to help conservation efforts by informing us about climate change, habitat loss, and even predicting natural disasters and zoonotic diseases.

For generations, people have noticed that animals act oddly before events like earthquakes. In 2012, Wikelski’s team observed goats on Mount Etna. They found that these goats would stay close to the ground before an eruption, sensing things long before scientists could. Similarly, farm animals in the Italian Apennines detected earthquakes up to 12 hours early. They reacted by becoming restless, much like a stock market crash.

Wikelski theorizes that these animals are sensitive to changes in the environment, possibly reacting to ions released from tectonic plates. With advancements in tagging technology, Icarus is making it possible to gather this animal data on a massive scale. Today, mini GPS devices can be placed on even small animals like songbirds. These sensors are like “Fitbits for wildlife,” tracking locations and even vital signs like heart rates and body temperatures.

This data will be sent to tiny satellites called CubeSats. From there, it will be shared in a public database named Movebank, acting as a “permanent digital museum” of animal movements. Wikelski believes this project is the most ambitious wildlife-tracking endeavor to date, opening up countless possibilities for research.

Imagine being able to follow your favorite animal from your phone—this is what Wikelski envisions. He hopes that by connecting people to individual animals, support for conservation efforts will grow. Instead of a statistic like “3,000 lions died,” people will care more about the story of a single lion, making the issue feel more real.

As animals adapt to climate change, understanding their movements is crucial. Icarus can also help monitor species linked to diseases, such as bats. Tracking these animals could provide critical insights into outbreaks of zoonotic diseases. Paul McGreevy highlights the potential of using animals’ GPS data to keep an eye on disease spread in a post-pandemic world.

Though some critics question the costs—between $10 and $15 million a year—supporters argue it’s far more economical than sending humans or drones to remote areas. Ultimately, Icarus offers a new way to monitor our planet, turning animals into vital indicators of environmental change.

As animal conservation faces increasing challenges, innovative projects like Icarus stand out. They not only help protect wildlife but also can illuminate broader ecological shifts, providing insight into our world’s health.

For more in-depth information on the Internet of Animals, you can check out this MIT Technology Review article for further insights into advancements in technology and wildlife monitoring.

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