Kaziranga National Park to deploy unmanned aircraft

GUWHATI: Assam government is planning to deploy unmanned aircraft at Kaziranga National Park (KNP). Test flight of unmanned aircraft was held in presence of Wildlife Institute of India ( WII) Scientist, Dr. K. Ramesh who leads the monitoring programme.

Assam Minister for Environment and Forests, Rockybul Hussain said test will continue till April 11 so as to understand all measures that will be required for implementation of the unmanned aircraft for better surveillance at the national park.

In last three months around 16 one horned Rhinos were killed in Assam, of which at least 11 were killed in KNP alone by the poachers.

The unmanned aircraft is one of the measures undertaken by the State Forest Department and National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) to keep a track of events at the national park. The minister added that the use of this advance technology will help to monitor unwanted movements of the poachers and thus keep a track. Defence ministry is yet to clear the deployment of this aircraft.