How drones are helping in elusive 'unicorn' research

The underwater behaviour of the secretive narwhal has been almost impossible to study until now — but drone technology means we can now see what they are up to and what they are really doing with those tusks

Researchers, led by Greg O’Corry-Crowe of Florida Atlantic University, used drones to spy on the private lives of narwhals off Somerset Island in the Canadian Arctic. They discovered that the tusks are not just for show but have multiple functions. 

The unicorn in Britain's Royal Coat of Arms represents Scotland. It seems an unlikely symbol — real-world unicorns, narwhals, seldom venture south of cold sub-Arctic seas. They are only ‘occasional guests’ even in Iceland and none has been recorded off Ireland.