Apple Watch Gets Wild

Forget fitness trackers! Apple Watches are going wild to help save animals.   Vets in Australia are using them to monitor heart rates in lions (and you won't believe where they put the watch!).  See how tech is helping conserve wildlife.

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In a fascinating twist on tech, veterinarians in Australia are pioneering a new use for the Apple Watch: monitoring the heart rates of lions and other large wildlife. This approach, spearheaded by Dr. Chloe Buiting (@Jungle_doctor on Instagram), highlights the exciting ways technology can contribute to wildlife conservation.
Check out the viral Instagram video showcasing a sedated lion with an Apple Watch strapped to its tongue, a creative and rather unconventional application of the device. The caption playfully acknowledges this, stating, "Apple Watch can measure a lion's heart rate if you strap it to the tongue... a true - 'technology meets conservation' story."
This ingenious technique finds its roots in the work of Dr. Fabiola Quesada, a renowned wildlife veterinarian. Dr. Quesada successfully tested the Apple Watch by attaching it to an elephant's ear to measure its heart rate, demonstrating the method's potential for large animals.
For lions, veterinarians strategically place the Apple Watch on the tongue of a sedated animal. This allows for real-time monitoring of heart rate during medical procedures, ensuring vital signs are tracked efficiently. This is especially crucial for ensuring the health and safety of large, potentially dangerous wildlife during medical interventions.
The secret behind the Apple Watch's heart rate monitoring lies in a technology called photo-plethys-mography. This method works by exploiting the fact that blood absorbs green light and reflects red light. The watch uses green LED lights and light-sensitive photodiodes to measure blood flow through the wrist (or, in this case, the tongue!). By flashing the LEDs rapidly, the watch detects variations in light absorption and calculates heart rate.
According to Apple, the watch's optical heart sensor can measure heart rates between 30 and 210 beats per minute. To ensure accuracy, the sensor adjusts for weak signals by increasing LED brightness and sampling rate. It can even use infrared light for continuous heart rate monitoring and notifications.
This use of the Apple Watch in wildlife conservation demonstrates the constant evolution of technology and its potential to benefit animal well-being. It's a testament to the ingenuity of veterinarians and a promising step forward for wildlife care.

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