The National Zoo reports that there are only about 1,600 giant pandas remaining in the wild, making this beautiful animal an endangered species.

While these low numbers might indicate that the giant panda would be an isolated and somewhat lonely creature, a new study from Michigan State University indicates that may not be the case.

Researchers from Michigan State University used GPS telemetry, by attaching a GPS tracking device to five pandas belonging to Wolong National Nature Reserve in China and tracking the movements of the animal over time to estimate the home ranges and core areas of five giant pandas.

Appearing in the Journal of Mammalogy, the study called “Space Use by Endangered Giant Pandas” reveals that interaction between the male and two of the female pandas during the fall months, a time of year once thought to be light on interaction between the species.

The study involved three adult female pandas (Mei Mei, Zhong Zhong, and Pan Pan), one adult male panda (Chuan Chuan), and one adolescent female (Long Long).

Part of what makes this study so exciting for researchers, according to study co-author Jindong Zhang, as reported in Demanjo, is that “This was a terrific chance to get a peek into the panda’s secretive society that has been closed off to us in the past.” Read the rest of this entry »

GPS fleet tracking offers many benefits to fleet owners, operators, and drivers. These benefits represent the cream of the crop for all parties involved.

1) Cut Fuel Costs

Whether you have five vehicles in your fleet or 50, fuel costs are no laughing matter. GPS tracking offers numerous opportunities to cut the cost of fuel from creating more fuel efficient routes and eliminating route crossovers to helping drivers avoid traffic jams and slowdowns that are less fuel efficient.

2) Enhances Customer Service and Satisfaction Experiences

Who doesn’t want satisfied customers? GPS fleet tracking systems help you provide your customers with more accurate windows or appointment estimates. This makes customers much happier and even more likely to call on your business to meet their needs in the future.

3) Improve Route Efficiency

Whether it’s zig-zagging across town to take care of business as it rolls in or simply crossing over other drivers that may be closer to take care of customers in a first come first served manner, inefficiencies in the routing process cost companies money, man hours, and, in many cases, overtime pay for employees.  GPS tracking and routine services can eliminate the cross over by measuring routes according to driver location rather than who’s likely to finish next. Read the rest of this entry »

Getting your bike stolen when you’re in college can be a disaster. Most students are living on tiny budgets. Replacing a bike is expensive. Often a student’s two means of transportation are walking or biking. Sadly, bike theft is common on college campuses. According to the FBI, bike theft costs owners over $350 million each year.

In a four-month period, Reed College in Portland, OR had more than 30 bicycles reported stolen. In response, the campus police are taking proactive measures to catch thieves and make bike theft less tempting.

In addition to increasing the number of patrols on campus, the school is attaching GPS tracking devices to specific bikes, called bait bikes. The results are impressive. Here is an example.

At 2:30 in the afternoon a device was attached to an bike abandoned in a theft-prone area. By 8:30 that same evening, the GPS tracking device sent a message to campus patrols that it had been moved. Read the rest of this entry »

Spring is in the air and for wholesale nurseries, this is a busy time of year. This is the time of year when you must bring your “A” game to the table and GPS fleet tracking can help you do that in more ways than you may realize.

You’ve probably heard by now that GPS fleet tracking provides excellent returns when it comes to fuel usage, but there are many other benefits it brings to the table for wholesale nurseries that are well worth considering.

Provides Accurate ETAs for Deliveries

More importantly, you can offer the smaller nurseries you serve the ability to track their shipments. Why does this matter to you? How often do you field time consuming phone calls from customers wondering when their orders will be delivered? Read the rest of this entry »

An animal trapper gets the unique experience of letting coyotes go after capturing them, to fulfill a GPS tracking study.

Dan Eaton, owner of CSRA Trapping Services, usually spends his days capturing coyotes, but the act of releasing them is brand new to him. For a new study involving coyotes in the areas of Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina, Eaton is capturing the coyotes so researchers can attach a GPS tracking device. He will then release them back into the wild for the research study.

The study is being conducted at the University of Georgia in Woodlawn, Georgia. This project is set to last three years in total, as they want to track a total of 160 coyotes. Michael Chamberlain, who is a professor at the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, is at the head of the study.

Researchers are concerned that the dropping deer fawn population in these areas, and believe coyotes are to blame, as they are one of their biggest predators. The researchers are also concerned about all of the sightings of coyotes in suburban areas, where resident’s pets are at risk. The coyotes will be released only so the research team can track their whereabouts. Read the rest of this entry »