Elephants to now be tracked using Bengaluru- made radio collars (Hassan) Times of India March 28, 2025 Hassan forest department has deployed indigenous radio collars to track wild elephants. This is believed to be the first time it has been done in the country. Two tuskers in the region were fitted with trackers developed by a Bengaluru-based company in collaboration with the forest department. Hassan forest department officials successfully fitted the radio collars on two elephants that were captured recently. Conservator of Hassan forests, V Yedukondalu told TOI that the instruments were working efficiently. "Previously, the instruments were imported from South Africa and Germany, but now they are manufactured locally, resulting in cost-effectiveness. The officials can keep a close eye on the movement of the elephants. If elephants move near human habitats, a message will be sent to the locals, he said. Deputy conservator Saurabh Kumar said, "Earlier, it was difficult to get the instruments serviced, as the instruments were imported from South Africa and Germany. Now, we can get them fixed immediately without any delay." According to an officer, there was always a fear of data theft when using imported instruments, but now the chances of data leakage are less. Major advantage of indigenous instruments is that they weigh less compared to imported ones. While imported ones weighed 17 kg, indigenous ones weigh 7 kg. Forest minister Eshwar B Khandre recently released the indigenously manufactured radio collars to track elephant herds. Indigenous radio collars are manufactured by a Bengaluru-based company in association with the Karnataka forest department. While imported ones cost Rs 6.5 lakh for one radio collar, the indigenously collars cost Rs 1.8 lakh. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/elephants-to-now-be-tracked-using-bengaluru-made-radio-collars/articleshow/119668774.cms