Abstract
We tested the performance of a semi-real time tracking system of Japanese black bears Ursus thibetanus japonicus using a low earth orbit communications satellite (Whale Ecology Observation Satellite: WEOS) that was assembled from market products. The WEOS tracks bears using a collar transmitter that carries a data recorder for GPS position. The GPS positioning data is transferred when the WEOS is overhead of the collared bear. We first evaluated communication performance of a stationary transmitter on a flat area (sky view: 30.83%) and in a valley bottom (sky view: 28.39%), and then deployed a collar type transmitter on a free-ranging male bear. Visible passes of WEOS at each stationary sits were 5 to 6 times/day. Communication success ratios from the transmitter to WEOS declined at the valley bottom and the free-ranging bear than the flat land (72.5%: n&εθυαλσ;195). However, we confirmed that the data transmitted successfully 1.02 times/day. Assuming data transmission at each communication can be increased after this, the semi-real time tracking system using the WEOS will be very useful.
