A flock of sheep sending text messages to its shepherd sounds like an idea from a science fiction film, but in Switzerland, researchers tested a prototype system that came surprisingly close to this. In 2012, Swiss biologists fitted sheep with heart-rate monitors capable of detecting a surge in stress that usually occurs when predators approach. The long-term ambition behind this prototype was that if the collar sensed the distinctive panic associated with a wolf attack, it would automatically release a wolf repellent while simultaneously sending a text alert to the farmer, giving them time to respond. According to the BBC, the project was designed to offer a non-lethal and technology-driven way of protecting livestock as wolves gradually returned to parts of Europe after decades of conservation efforts.
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