Forest Drones: Experts Urge Safeguards Now

The increasing deployment of drones for wildlife monitoring and managing human-wildlife conflicts in India, including Kerala, is prompting calls for robust safeguards. Experts highlight potential negative impacts on wildlife behavior and invasion of personal privacy. Currently, the Kerala Forest Department reports using drones exclusively for monitoring purposes, not for actively herding animals.

Concerns have been raised that the high-pitched sounds of drones can mimic insects like bees and wasps, causing annoyance and disrupting their natural activities. Scientists also point out that flying drones too low, too fast, or too loudly can stress animals and alter their behavior. Adherence to safe flying rules, such as maintaining altitude and avoiding direct overhead flights, is crucial.

Beyond wildlife, the use of drones and camera traps raises significant privacy issues, with the potential for capturing images and videos of individuals without consent. Instances of misuse of surveillance technologies and human rights violations have been documented in other national parks. Experts are urging a critical review of expanded drone and camera trap deployment in Kerala, proposing a comprehensive Code of Practice.

While drones can serve surveillance and monitoring roles, their active use with payloads like loudspeakers to herd animals is not currently practiced in Kerala. This practice, employed elsewhere, aims to guide animals away from human settlements. Authorities in Kerala affirm that drone deployment is limited to monitoring in areas experiencing severe human-wildlife conflict.