İsmail Akkaş uses drones to manage livestock in Erzurum

İsmail Akkaş, a 28-year-old shepherd in the Oltu district of Erzurum, Turkey, has integrated drone technology into his traditional livestock management practices. Known as the ‘Tekno Çoban’ (Techno Shepherd), Akkaş uses drones to monitor and direct his goats, particularly when they climb into steep or rocky terrain that would be dangerous for him to access manually.

This technological approach has provided both operational and personal health benefits. Akkaş reported that by using the drone to manage the herd, he no longer needs to run for hours after the animals, allowing him to monitor them more efficiently. Furthermore, he noted that the reduced physical strain helped alleviate his meniscus injury, which doctors had previously suggested treating with surgery.

Akkaş, who has been a shepherd since childhood, emphasizes the importance of using technology correctly to improve efficiency and safety in traditional professions.