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[![](https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/left-screenshot-from-a-drone-video-shows-an-aerial-view-of-a-dark-brown-and-light-brown-dog-in-an-enclosure-right-red-lava-white-smoke-and-brown-ash-spew-out-of-a-hole.jpg?id=27709836&amp;width=2480&amp;height=1170)](https://spectrum.ieee.org/lapalma-volcano-drones-dog-rescue)

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<h6><sup>( October 20, 2021; <i>IEEE Spectrum</i> )</sup></h6>

<blockquote>

For the past month, the Cumbre Vieja volcano on the Spanish island of La Palma has been erupting, necessitating the evacuation of 7,000 people as lava flows towards the sea and destroys everything in its path. Sadly, many pets have been left behind, trapped in walled-off yards that are now covered in ash without access to food or water. The reason that we know about these animals is because drones have been used to monitor the eruption, providing video (sometimes several times per day) of the situation.

In areas that are too dangerous to send humans, drones have been used to drop food and water to some of these animals, but that can only keep them alive for so long. Yesterday, a drone company called <A HREF="https://aerocamaras.es/aerocamaras-prepara-un-rescate-pionero-en-espana/">Aerocamaras</A> received permission to attempt a rescue, using <A HREF="https://aerocamaras.es/aerocamaras-prepara-un-rescate-pionero-en-espana/">a large drone equipped with a net to, they hope, airlift a group of starving dogs to safety</A>.

</blockquote>

Here's a video of the eruption:

<iframe width="866" height="487" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GLhCyl_bff4" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe><br>

Here's a video of some of the animals that were left behind:

<iframe width="866" height="487" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/T-_EF9qQEWg" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe><br>

And here's a video of airdrops of food and water by a company called <A HREF="http://www.tecnofly.es/">TecnoFly</A>

<iframe width="866" height="487" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yPGZ7LJ3mKc" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe><br>

The special permits were needed because it's currently illegal to transport live animals by drone in Spain.

Read the rest from <i></i>: [Drones to Attempt Rescue of Starving Dogs Stranded by Volcano](https://spectrum.ieee.org/lapalma-volcano-drones-dog-rescue)

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Since this story was three days old, I checked for an update and found this:

[A mysterious ‘A Team’ just rescued dogs from a volcano’s lava zone in La Palma](https://wamu.org/story/21/10/21/a-mysterious-a-team-just-rescued-dogs-from-a-volcanos-lava-zone-in-la-palma/)

<blockquote>

Drone operators were preparing to launch a daring rescue mission to carry several dogs out of a volcano’s lava zone when they realized something had changed: All of the dogs were already gone.

It was apparently the work of a group of mysterious rescuers who left a spray-painted banner reading, “The dogs are fine.” The message was signed “A Team.”

The dogs’ plight has made headlines for weeks after emergency teams realized the animals had been stranded by lava from a volcano’s prolonged eruption on the island of La Palma, Spain.

</blockquote>

Here's a video from the "A Team"

<iframe width="926" height="524" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eSpZkP7YHgQ" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe><br>

So, it seems that the story has a happy ending, but I guess we'll never know if the drone rescue would have succeeded or not.

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