Bhubaneswar: In order to prevent and mitigate man-elephant conflict, the Forest Department has deployed thermal drone cameras in two more forest ranges in Keonjhar forest Division.
The thermal drone camera was first used in Champua range in December last year to track movements of the elephants at night to ensure the safety of the animals and reduce casualties. It has now been extended to Patana and Ghatagon ranges of Keonjhar.
Keonjhar has been witnessing an increase in man-animal conflict, leading to house and crop damage and human casualties. Elephant deaths have also been reported from the district, said Keonjhar DFO Dhanraj Hanumant Dhamdhere.
Monitoring movement of the pachyderms has always been a challenge for us amid the several infrastructure hazards like railway, electricity and open well and also pesticides use, he said.
Notably, at least 925 people have died of elephant attacks in Odisha between 2012-13 and 2021-22, according to state minister for forest, environment and climate change, Pradip Amat.
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