India deploys drones to save rhinos

India has deployed aerial drones over Kaziranga National Park in Assam state in a bid to protect endangered one-horned rhinos from poachers. Kaziranga chief NK Vasu said the maiden drone flight on Monday was a "milestone in wildlife protection". The park is home to two-thirds of the world's one-horned rhino population and also has a large number of elephants, tigers and other wildlife. In recent months, rhinos have been killed in large numbers by poachers. Drones and other successful anti-poaching measures have also been used by the WWF in nearby Chitwan National Park in Nepal, where the hunting of one-horned rhinos has been drastically reduced. "The Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) was up in the sky for 15 minutes. It landed safely," Mr Vasu said. "We hope this technology will go a long way in effective surveillance of the park." Assam Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain said this was the first time that drones had been used for wildlife protection anywhere in India. "The UAVs will deter poachers who will now have to reckon with surveillance from air as well as on ground," Mr Hussain said...more