The telecommunications company MTS has deployed a cellular network and installed a fiber-optic line at the Kamchatka Falcon Center. This new infrastructure provides high-speed internet access to the country’s only specialized breeding facility dedicated to the reproduction and rehabilitation of rare birds of prey.
A stable network signal allows ornithologists to track the movements of gyrfalcons in real time using trackers attached to the birds. Specialists can remotely monitor the coordinates, altitude, and flight speed of the predators, as well as analyze their hunting routes. This data is essential for assessing the readiness of captive-bred individuals to survive in their natural habitat prior to their final release into the wild.
The launch of the base station establishes a technical foundation for further modernization of the facility. Center management plans to organize cloud storage for large datasets and implement a round-the-clock video surveillance system for the enclosures with remote access capabilities. High-speed internet also facilitates direct communication with the global professional community, enabling staff to participate in international conservation projects and promptly consult with foreign colleagues regarding the medical treatment of falcons.
The falcon center covers an area of approximately 300 hectares and has been in operation since 2019. The complex specializes in restoring the population of the gyrfalcon – a rare bird of prey listed in the Red Data Books of both Russia and the Kamchatka Territory. Over the past decades, the wild population of these birds has declined by nearly two-thirds amid large-scale illegal trapping. The facility is designed to raise up to 1,000 birds annually, while also providing veterinary rehabilitation for gyrfalcons seized from poachers.