Drone News Roundup: Himalayas by Drone, Drones Help Rescue Baby Deer, and More!
BY Zacc Dukowitz
25 June 2026This week we’re covering a cinematic drone tour of the Himalayan Mountains.
We’re also covering drones helping rescue baby deer, a man in Florida shooting a BB gun at a police drone, a new drone-in-a-box deployment for railway inspections, and the FCC reversing course on restrictions for some Chinese-made toy drones
Now on to the links!
Drone Tour of the Himalayan Mountains
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This beautiful drone tour of the Himalayas was shot entirely in Nepal and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. It starts with a shot of Mt. Everest, then moves on to the Gokyo Lakes, capturing some of the world’s highest mountains and lakes from the air. The footage glides over snow-covered peaks, deep valleys, winding rivers, and remote villages, showcasing both the scale and beauty of the region. Take a look for a moment of zen, or just to be inspired by the sheer vastness of the landscape in these remote, snowy regions.
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Drones Help Save Baby Deer During Harvest Season
Every spring, hidden fawns are at risk of being struck by mowing equipment as farmers harvest their fields. DJI has partnered with @KR-Copter to use thermal drones to save the deer, locating them before work begins so volunteers can move them out of harm’s way. The effort has become increasingly common across parts of Europe, where drone pilots work with farmers to protect wildlife while allowing harvesting to continue with minimal delays. This video highlights the effort, giving farmers a step-by-step workflow they can use to rescue fawns before mowing.
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Florida Man Accused of Shooting BB Gun at Police Drone
A man in South Florida recently shot at a sheriff’s office DFR (Drone as First Responder) drone with a BB gun as the drone was searching for a bear. The drone recorded the entire incident, including the suspect firing at least two shots before deputies arrived and arrested him. According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the drone’s real-time video helped deputies quickly identify the suspect, who now faces a felony charge for shooting at an aircraft—a crime that applies to drones just as it does to crewed aircraft.
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Drone-in-a-Box Cleared for Remote BVLOS Railway Inspections
Credit: Heliguy
Heliguy has received approval from the UK Civil Aviation Authority to conduct BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) operations for Network Rail using a drone-in-a-box. The approval allows drones stationed along the rail network to be launched remotely to inspect tracks and infrastructure without a pilot on site. Railways are one of the clearest use cases for BVLOS because they require operators to inspect hundreds of miles of linear infrastructure quickly and repeatedly. As regulators become more comfortable approving these kinds of operations, they could become a model for routine BVLOS inspections elsewhere—including in the U.S., where the FAA is working toward broader BVLOS through its proposed Part 108 rule.
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FCC Exempts Some Chinese-Made Toy Drones
Credit: Syma
In a narrow reversal, the FCC is now giving a pass to some Chinese-made toy drones from its automatic restrictions. In a recent order, the agency ruled that certain toy drones can continue receiving FCC equipment authorizations if they meet a narrow set of requirements.
To qualify, the drone must:
- Weigh less than 150 grams
- Be marketed as a toy
- Have no camera, microphone, or live video capabilities
- Use brushed motors (not brushless motors)
- Have no GPS or Wi-Fi connectivity
Put plainly, these exemptions only apply to simple toy drones—not camera drones like those made by DJI or Autel.
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