DRONE TECHNOLOGY TO CHASE ELEPHANTS

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Department of Wildlife Conservation has taken steps to use drone technology to chase away elephants; the pilot project of this initiative is currently underway in the Naula Rathgammana area in Matale, wildlife officials said on Saturday (Jan. 02). The pilot project is conducted together with the Sri Lanka Army Research Unit and Sri Lanka Navy, M.S.R.C. Marasinghe, the Director of Operations at the Department of Wildlife Conservation told News 1st. Based on the success of the pilot project, plans are underway to use drone technology for operations to chase elephants in other parts of the island as well, the Director of Operations at the Wildlife Department further noted. Meanwhile, according to wildlife officials in the Rathgammana area, elephants have been chased away from 5 Grama Niladhari divisions to the Moragahakanda reserve, with the use of drones.