Sheep collar 'cries wolf' with text message to shepherds

[noharleyyet]

Modern-day shepherds may soon gaze at their smartphones instead of their flock thanks to a high-tech sheep collar that sends a text message when a wolf attacks.
The collar is under development in Europe where wolves are making a comeback. In concept, it could be used as a replacement for sheepdogs, which are apparently more costly to maintain in a world where just about everyone carries a mobile phone.

In a recent trial, a heart-rate monitor similar to those worn by gadget-obsessed runners was fitted to the collars of 12 sheep. When a pair of muzzled Czechoslovakian wolfdogs attacked, the sheep's hearts jumped from around 80 beats per minute to 225.
The spike was sharp enough to warrant building a future version that will emit a repellant to drive away the wolf as well as send a text message to a shepherd, Swiss biologist Jean-Marc Landry from the Swiss carnivore research group Kora told The Telegraph.
Field trials with the texting collar are expected to begin in this fall in Switzerland with a final prototype ready for testing in 2013.

...another version being tested is a prototype whose message transmits 'Montanny wearing slip on boots approaching!'

 

[Dinkshooter]

...another version being tested is a prototype whose message transmits 'Montanny wearing slip on boots approaching!'

the sheep's hearts jumped from around 80 beats per minute to 225.

The heart always knows when it is in love.

 

[idnative1948]

Spent time in sheep camps growing up, taking a shift with a 30-30 overnight. Guys were really glad dad and his brothers had sons. Just how we did things in the 50's. Sheep are so stupid tho during lambing.

 

[tarheel]

...another version being tested is a prototype whose message transmits 'Montanny wearing slip on boots approaching!'

Does it distinguish between knee boots or hip waders? Baaaa!

 

[npaden]

Wait, they must not have read the article from the New York Times. That guy says large predators are declining worldwide so when they simply say that wolves are making a comeback in Europe they must be mistaken so they probably don't need a collar. I'm sure they are just mistaking domestic dogs for wolves. If they had a quote from a biologist it would have made a big difference though.

 

[DavidKeenan]

Wait, they must not have read the article from the New York Times. That guy says large predators are declining worldwide so when they simply say that wolves are making a comeback in Europe they must be mistaken so they probably don't need a collar. I'm sure they are just mistaking domestic dogs for wolves. If they had a quote from a biologist it would have made a big difference though.

:hump::hump::hump::hump::hump::hump::hump::hump::hump: