Drone squad formed to monitor wild elephants at Aralam in Kerala’s Kannur

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As part of the programme, field staff received training in the operation and field use of advanced wildlife monitoring equipment, including thermal drones, night vision thermal binoculars, ASKS lights, and camera traps. | Photo Credit: special arrangement

The Kerala Forest Department has formed a special drone squad to strengthen monitoring of wild elephants and reduce human-wildlife conflict in Aralam and surrounding areas of Kannur district.

The initiative was launched under the leadership of the Kottiyoor Range of the Kannur Forest Division. As part of the programme, field staff received training in the operation and field use of advanced wildlife monitoring equipment, including thermal drones, night vision thermal binoculars, ASKS lights, and camera traps.

The training was led by Ananthu CN, who received specialised instruction from Chennai-based RFLY Innovation. Sessions focused on the role of technology in wildlife monitoring and the effective use of equipment during emergency situations.

The special drone squad has been constituted jointly by the Kannur Forest Division and the Aralam Wildlife Division to improve surveillance of problem elephants in the Aralam farm and Aralam rehabilitation areas, where human-elephant conflict has been a recurring concern.

Thermal drones will be deployed to detect elephants entering residential areas during the night and to assist in safely driving them back into protected forest areas. The technology will also help officials identify damaged fencing, conduct rapid inspections, strengthen monitoring efforts, and support night patrol operations.

Irrity Section Officer Sunilkumar Chennappoyil has been appointed team leader of the drone squad, while Beat Forest Officer Jishnu Payam and Ananthu C.N. will serve as technical experts.

According to Forest Department officials, the squad functioning under the leadership of the Deputy Range Forest Officer RR Team (Rapid Response Team) and comprising selected field personnel has commenced opera