Madhya Pradesh: Night vision drones to keep tigers safe at Panna park

BHOPAL: Now, night vision drone will help in monitoring movements of big cats at Panna tiger reserve (PTR). The PTR acquired a new night vision (thermal and IR) drone in its squad in the last week of December. The device will help boost security of the reserve, known for its successful tiger relocation programme after all its tigers had vanished in 2008.
In August last year , a ‘drone squad’ was constituted for protection, monitoring and management of wildlife in the tiger reserve. The squad consists of a ‘DJ1 Phantom drone with sufficient batteries to operate for long hours, a dedicated vehicle and a drone operator with an assistant, park sources said.
“ Monthly schedule has been chalked out for the functioning and use of the machine by the drone squad”, they said. Park director Uttam Kumar Sharma said that the use of drone in PTR has been envisaged for law enforcement, monitoring, search and rescue of wildlife, wildfires firefighting and curbing human-animal conflict. Future use of drone has been planned for ecotourism, monitoring invasive plant species, recreational and educational purposes and documentation of the bio-diversity.”
The night device drone is another step to ensure 24-hour vigil in sensitive areas of the park, park director said, adding that more drones may be added for better wildlife management of the park. In fact, drone operations in Panna were delayed as on March 28 2017, a team from Wildlife Institute of India and National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) had successfully tested drone flights over Panna. Spread over 542 sq km area, the PTR is home to about 70 tigers and also some endangered species of vultures. Of 9 vulture species found in India, six are found in the Panna Tiger Reserve, including endangered white-backed vulture and long-billed vulture