New app helps shepherds to monitor their sheep

Faroese sheep owners have traditionally had to take long hikes into the mountains using binoculars to keep an eye on their sheep.

But thanks to new technology, this is no longer necessary.

Telecoms provider Føroya Tele has developed an app, named Spora (Faroese for ‘track’), which enables sheep owners to monitor their animals from the comfort of their homes.

Numerous benefits

The system works by attaching a GPS tracker around the sheep’s neck, enabling the owner to track the animal’s movements from a smartphone or a PC.

“There are many benefits of using this system,” says Føroya Tele product manager Heini Mohr Heinesen. “In addition to tracking an animal’s movement – Spora can obviously also be used on other animals such as cattle – the system can come in handy during sheep drives, as it gives the owner detailed information about the sheep’s whereabouts, which can help speed up the drive to the sheepfold.”

The system has been tested in Faroese mountains for almost a year, and Føroya Tele is continuing to refine the technology.

Translated by prosa.fo