TN foresters to get eyes in the sky to guard against poachers, wildfires
Chennai: Tamil Nadu forest department is rolling out a major tech upgrade by training its field staff to operate newly procured advanced drones. These drones are set to be game-changers in tracking elephants, tackling forest fires and supporting anti-poaching patrols.
These drones, funded under the Tamil Nadu Biodiversity Conservation and Greening Project Climate Change Response (TBGPCCR), will be deployed across 13 territorial forest circles. Chief project director of TBGPCCR, I Anwardeen, said that the drones' sophisticated features, including a 48-megapixel wide-angle camera and a thermal sensor with zoom, enable effective night-time operations.
With integrated GPS coordinates, the drones will provide real-time tracking of wildlife, particularly elephants, offering timely alerts to nearby villages and human settlements when animals stray into inhabited areas.
The drones can also pinpoint the origin of fires and assess whether such areas are accessible to ground teams.
Additionally, post-fire surveys conducted using these drones will yield vital information on the damage to tree species, wildlife, and smaller mammals, facilitating better rehabilitation strategies. Their compatibility with add-ons such as searchlights and speakers further enhances their operational effectiveness, especially in challenging terrain or emergency scenarios.
A laser range finder adds to their capability, ensuring extensive and precise coverage.
Anwardeen highlighted the time these drones save, saying that tasks which previously required 20 days of manual effort can now be completed in half a day. To ensure effective deployment, three forest staff members from each circle will undergo specialized training to become drone pilots. This strategic training initiative aims to build a skilled workforce ready to harness the full potential of drone technology.
Furthermore, the department is planning to procure another category of drones focused on mapping forest areas, studying various forest types, conducting terrain modelling, and topographical analysis.
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Hans India
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TN Forest Dept deploys high-tech drones to boost wildlife monitoring and fire management
Chennai: In a major technological upgrade, the Tamil Nadu Forest Department is introducing advanced drones to strengthen its operations in wildlife monitoring, forest fire control, and anti-poaching efforts. The initiative, supported by the Tamil Nadu Biodiversity Conservation and Greening Project Climate Change Response (TBGPCCR), will see the deployment of these drones across 13 territorial forest circles in the state. I. Anwardeen, Chief Project Director of TBGPCCR, said the newly procured drones are equipped with cutting-edge features, including a 48-megapixel wide-angle camera, a thermal sensor with zoom capability, and GPS integration, making them highly effective for both daytime and night-time operations. One of the primary objectives of this drone deployment is the real-time tracking of elephants. By monitoring their movements, the drones can help alert nearby villages when elephants stray close to human settlements, reducing the risk of human-wildlife conflict. The GPS functionality enables precise and timely alerts, enhancing response time for forest officials. The drones will also be instrumental in tackling forest fires. Their thermal sensors can identify the origin of fires, determine the spread, and assess whether the affected areas are accessible to ground teams. Post-fire surveys conducted using aerial footage will provide critical insights into damage sustained by tree species, wildlife, and small mammals, aiding in effective restoration and rehabilitation strategies. Beyond surveillance, the drones support various add-ons such as searchlights, loudspeakers, and laser range finders—tools that significantly enhance their utility in complex terrains and emergency scenarios. These features allow forest teams to carry out diverse operations with greater efficiency and accuracy. 'These drones are transforming the way we work in the field. Tasks that would earlier take up to 20 days of manual labour can now be completed in just a few hours,' said Anwardeen. To ensure efficient use of the new technology, the department will train three staff members from each forest circle to operate the drones. This capacity-building initiative aims to develop a skilled in-house team of drone pilots across the state. Additionally, the department is planning to procure a separate class of drones dedicated to mapping forest terrains, studying ecological diversity, modelling topography, and analysing various forest types.
Time of India
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TN foresters to get eyes in the sky to guard against poachers, wildfires
Chennai: Tamil Nadu forest department is rolling out a major tech upgrade by training its field staff to operate newly procured advanced drones. These drones are set to be game-changers in tracking elephants, tackling forest fires and supporting anti-poaching patrols. These drones, funded under the Tamil Nadu Biodiversity Conservation and Greening Project Climate Change Response (TBGPCCR), will be deployed across 13 territorial forest circles. Chief project director of TBGPCCR, I Anwardeen, said that the drones' sophisticated features, including a 48-megapixel wide-angle camera and a thermal sensor with zoom, enable effective night-time operations. With integrated GPS coordinates, the drones will provide real-time tracking of wildlife, particularly elephants, offering timely alerts to nearby villages and human settlements when animals stray into inhabited areas. The drones can also pinpoint the origin of fires and assess whether such areas are accessible to ground teams. Additionally, post-fire surveys conducted using these drones will yield vital information on the damage to tree species, wildlife, and smaller mammals, facilitating better rehabilitation strategies. Their compatibility with add-ons such as searchlights and speakers further enhances their operational effectiveness, especially in challenging terrain or emergency scenarios. A laser range finder adds to their capability, ensuring extensive and precise coverage. Anwardeen highlighted the time these drones save, saying that tasks which previously required 20 days of manual effort can now be completed in half a day. To ensure effective deployment, three forest staff members from each circle will undergo specialized training to become drone pilots. This strategic training initiative aims to build a skilled workforce ready to harness the full potential of drone technology. Furthermore, the department is planning to procure another category of drones focused on mapping forest areas, studying various forest types, conducting terrain modelling, and topographical analysis.
The Hindu
15-05-2025
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Forest Department moots profiling of wild elephants across Tamil Nadu
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