Summary:
Once the routes to villages taken by the wild elephants are mapped and confirmed, the forest department plans to request the government to equip them with thermal imaging cameras. The feed the cameras give is useful only if it is supported by adequate staff of anti-poaching watchers and rangers. The new drones will also help us in the same manner," said Shrivastava.The forest department has already added two thermal imaging cameras in Madukkarai near the railway track to capture movement of elephants on the newly installed trial ramps. Forest officials say early alerts will help them decide on the right course of action to prevent any losses.The forest department plans to place at least three to four thermal imaging cameras along each of the routes leading to the 40-odd villages which are along forest fringes prone to elephant raids. The cameras will be fitted along these routes at regular intervals.The feed will be monitored by forest rangers, foresters and anti-poaching watchers who will immediately know when an elephant starts moving towards a village..