Drones to protect elephants from tracks (Coimbatore) A Subburaj, Times of India November 30, 2021 Principal conservator of forests Shekhar Kumar Niraj on Monday instructed forest department officials to install three watchtowers each on the 1.8km stretch of track A and 2.8km track B, increase routine foot patrol and use drones fitted with night vision cameras to monitor movement of wild elephants. Niraj inspected track A at Navakkarai, where three elephants were mowed down by a train on Friday night, with district forest officer T K Ashok Kumar and senior officials. He also inspected track B. “We have decided to rope in tribal people for foot patrol along the tracks. They will be given training to tackle elephants,” said Niraj. “They will chase away elephants spotted near the tracks or near agricultural fields. The teams will be given night vision binoculars.” The department is planning to procure five drones fitted with infrared cameras to monitor elephants, leopards and sloth bears at night, the official said. “There is only one watchtower near track B. We are planning to set up two more watchtowers on track B and three on track A. The watchtowers will have state-of-the-art amenities, where forest department staff and anti-poaching watchers can stay and cook food. They will be given advanced communication systems,” said Niraj. The department will work with the railways to check elephant deaths. “We will request the railways to construct ramps and underpasses for wild animals. We need to build six to eight underpasses on track A and B. We will request them to install sign boards on track A so that loco pilots can follow instructions. We are also planning to meet officials of the ministry of environment and forest and ministry of railways in New Delhi,” the official added. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/drones-to-protect-elephants-from-tracks/articleshow/87991499.cms